J 00 Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons. [X ULY, 



studies were completed, his destination in afford to part with so able a professor; and 



life was undecided ; but, after hesitating for in 1779, be was called to the chair of 



sometime between science and literature, be physics, which lie contrived to occupy till 



declared for the former, and soon became 1804. At length, through years of unre- 



one of the most distinguished men of the age. milting labour, his health was impaired-, and 



His fame was established by two treatises, he was compelled to relinquish teaching, 



published respectively in the years 1769, and Volta did not marry till he had attained 



1771. In 1774, he was appointed regent of the age of fifty-one; but it is gratifying to 



the gymnasium of his native town. The know that he has left several sons, who are 



University of Pavia, however, could not worthy of such a parent. 



MONTHLY MEDICAL REPORT. 



THE temperature of the air during the last month has been happily moderated by 

 refreshing showers, and a more genial season has seldom been witnessed in this coun- 

 try. Acute diseases have prevailed, as reasonably might have been anticipated ; but, 

 in point of extent and severity, they have fallen far short of the common average. 

 Fever of the synoshal or inflammatory type has been met with, requiring a moderate 

 use of the lancet, and frequent doses of active evacuants ; but to the judicious employ- 

 ment of these means it has yielded, in almost all cases, with perfect readiness. No 

 instances of a fatal termination to it have occurred under the Reporter's observation j 

 and he can scarcely call to mind one case which has given him even momentary unea- 

 siness. The blood which he has had occasion to see drawn during the period of time 

 now under review, has not been generally or deeply buffy j and upon the whole it may 

 be remarked, that the inflammatory complaints of the season have been mild and 

 manageable. Hooping-cough still continues to shew itself. Measles has been common 

 in different parts ot the town, and, within the last week, small-pox has taken the lead 

 among the eruptive fevers. The tendency of warm weather to increase the proportion 

 of exanthemata, and to aggravate their symptoms when arising from any other cause, 

 is well known to all who are engaged in the practice of medicine ; and the reason of 

 this will readily suggest itself even to the unprofessional reader, in the strong deter- 

 mination of blood to the surface which warmth occasions. A curious illustration of 

 this principle occurred within the last few days, in the Reporter's practice. A young- 

 gentleman, sixteen years of age, had an attack of fever, attended with sickness at 

 stomach and pain of the back. These symptoms were relieved by the coming out of 

 an eruption on the legs and knees, of the kind called erythema nodosum a form of 

 cutaneous disease seldom witnessed, except in females, and not very often even in 

 them. 



Affections of the head have prevailed to a considerable extent. Giddiness, lethargic 

 sleepiness, and fulness of blood in the body generally, have been the leading symp- 

 toms. Such a state of disease is very general in London. It will be found in that por- 

 tion of the population who are engaged in sedentary occupations, and whose circum- 

 stances of life admit of their indulging in the daily use of porter. This favourite beve- 

 rage of the Londoners is not so harmless as they imagine. Great bodily exertion, 

 indeed, carries it off by the skin, and considerably diminishes its evil tendencies ; but 

 to those whose occupations, though constant, are sedentary, especially to females en- 

 gaged in needlework, a pint of porter taken daily will quickly prove the source of bad 

 health. A plethoric state of the blood-vessels is its common result, which sometimes 

 shews itself in the form of asthma and palpitation, but more usually in the characters 

 of head affection just adverted to. In the relief of that most distressing symptom, gid- 

 diness, no means can be put in competition with cupping-glasses applied to the nape 

 of the neck. Their effect is as certain as it is speedy j nor does it appear that repe- 

 tition diminishes, in any sensible degree, the value of this useful remedy. The Reporter 

 has now under his care an elderly man, who, for many years past, has been regularly 

 cupped every three months for giddiness, and invariably with the same good effect. 



Among the most severe complaints which the last month has produced may be 

 ranked gaslropynia that painful state of the stomach, which is a frequent attendant 

 on indigestion. It is described by patients as peculiarly distressing, rivetting their 

 attention, and poisoning all the sources of their enjoyment. Some persons suffer from 

 it whenever the stomach is, even in the slightest degree, disordered ; while, in others, 

 dyspepsia may go to a great extent without such a symptom ever developing itself. 

 The causes of this peculiarity are difficult to unravel. The circumstance depends pri- 



