INTRODUCTION. 



41 



apparatus for facilitating the inhaling of medicated vapors, since so widely ap- 

 proved in Europe. Magrath, an Irish physician in the same city, deserved to be 

 remembered for his strenuous efforts to introduce the cooling process of treat- 

 ment of febrile diseases. Surgery found an intrepid operator in McKnight. Bai- 

 ley, Bard and Treat were distinguished in clinical toil, and Crosby and Dingley 

 are remembered as skilful practitioners. 



Dr. Addams published in 1791 the first American tract on the subject of yellow 

 fever. The subsequent recurrence of that pestilence in 1795, called forth essays 

 by many medical writers ; among whom were Buel, E. H. Smith, Mitchill, Sea- 

 man and Bayly. The latter aimed to establish a distinction between infectious 

 and contagious diseases, until that time too generally confounded by physicians. 



The dreadful ravages of the yellow fever in the United States, and reports 

 too fearfully authentic of calamities inflicted by a like plague on the coast of 

 Africa and in the West Indies, had created a spirit of philosophic inquiry into the 

 origin of the disease, when Dr. Priestly arrived in this country. Recognised as 

 the author of the gaseous philosophy, which was expected to throw new light 

 upon the subject, his presence stimulated the eagerness of research into the nature 

 of fevers and of pestilence in general. Dr. Mitchill put forth a treatise on the 

 qualities of the nitrous oxide gas, and entered into a controversy with Priestly 

 concerning the nature of phlogiston. The recurrence of the disease with undi- 

 minished virulence in 1798, 1801, 1803, 1805, 1819 and 1822, prolonged the 

 discussion thus commenced. Notwithstanding all that has been written, the 

 nature of the pestilence is a mystery yet to be unfolded ; but it is just to affirm 

 that the learning, talents and clinical acumen which the subject has called forth, 

 reflect honor upon the professors of the healing art. 



The writings of Dr. Miller, and his new nomenclature of febrile and pestilen- 

 tial diseases, have had a wide circulation. The numerous contributions to medi- 

 cal science by Dr. Hosack, have had much influence on the minds of professional 

 and general readers ; and he is distinguished for having projected a new classi- 

 fication of contagious diseases. 



Intr. 6 



