Retrospective Criticism, 99 



those channels which convey the bile from the liver to the gall-bladder, 

 arresting it in its course, and pressing forward and enlarging the biliary 

 tubes. Thus, when but few of these animals have possession of this viscus, 

 its function is not materially impaired ; the parenchyma, or substance of 

 the liver, is unaltered in appearance ; the mucous channels, which convey 

 the bile to the gall-bladder, and from the gall-bladder to the intestines, have 

 not yet felt their presence, and the bile itself is secreted apparently un- 

 altered in quality or quantity : but here, as they live in a medium of per- 

 petual nourishment, they multiply to an extent incredible, and impede the 

 natural action of the liver and subordinate organs of the body. They 

 at length completely block up the conduits of bile, devouring the bile as 

 fast as it is secreted; spreading irritation and disease from the vessels in 

 which they live to the whole mass of the liver itself j and in some instances 

 they carve their way through the membrane which encircles them, and 

 escape by myriads into the cavity of the abdomen ; thus completing the 

 destruction of an important organ, and with it the life of the animal. These 

 extreme states are generally associated with dropsy and a total degeneracy 

 of the muscular tissue; the blood is deficient in quantity, very serous, and 

 almost destitute of fibrin. A correspondent (Vol. IV. p. 284.) enquires 

 the class and family of the fluke, in hopes o^ finding a remedy for a disease 

 so fatal. He will find it in the class Fermes, and order Intestina, and it is 

 the Fasciola hepatica. Contemplating it, as it is, as a variety of exotic 

 worm, it occurred to me that vermifuges, destructive to other species, 

 might be employed with advantage against this. But in instituting experi- 

 ments on the living animals, I discarded those popular remedies which 

 have only a mechanical action, and which could never reach the liver, for 

 those which operate by a wider range of influence. What I have observed 

 is, that there are in this class of remedies those which have little or no 

 effect when brought in contact with the living fluke ; and there are others 

 which destroy the animal immediately. To the first of those which are 

 inert, belong solutions of vegetable bitters, spirits of tar, and several others, 

 which need not be enumerated. To the second, or to those which destroy 

 the animal, belong solutions of mercury and the spirits of turpentine. For 

 example : a little calomel suspended in water, and dropped upon the animal, 

 quickly deprives it of life ; and a drop of the spirits of turpentine kills it 

 in a few seconds. The oil of turpentine is a deadly poison to the fluke. 

 The next consideration is, how far it may be safe to administer this medicine 

 to the living sheep, and what probability there is of its disturbing an animal 

 inhabiting the liver. With regard to the first exception, there can arise no 

 difficulty. The spirit of turpentine is borne readily by children, and has 

 been given to adults in doses of a quarter of a pint ; it is likewise applied 

 externally to blistered surfaces, and as a styptic to the bleeding mouths of 

 ruptured blood-vessels. There can be as little doubt with regard to the 

 second exception, when we consider the penetrating nature of this drug ; 

 when we know that the mere immersion of the hand in it is sufficient to im- 

 pregnate the urinary secretion ; nor can we doubt that its influence will be 

 acknowledged by an organ approximating and communicating with the sto- 

 mach, and by the worm inhabiting that organ. — John BrowUy M.D.F.L.S. 

 Boston^ Oct.^\, 1831. 



Hares taking the Water. — A harbour of great extent on our southern 

 coast has an island near the middle, of considerable size ; the nearest point 

 of which is a mile distant from the main land at high water, and with which 

 point there is frequent communication by a ferry. Early one morning in 

 spring, two hares were observed to come down from the hills of the main 

 land towards the sea side ; one of which, from time to time, left its com- 

 panion, and proceeeding to the very edge of the water, stopped there a 

 minute or two, and then returned to its mate. The tide was rising; and 

 after waiting some time, one of them, exactly at high-water, took to the 



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