50 a lristolochia serpentaria. 
chiefly on an essential oil, which it abundantly yields; and as this, 
like most other essential oils, is heating and stimulating, the snake- 
root, consequently, cannot be safely administered when the pulse de- 
mands blood-letting. But in the secondary stage of fevers, or after 
the inflammatory action has subsided or been subdued ; and espe- 
cially when the skin is obstinately dry, the paroxysms not termi- 
nating by sweat, then the serpentaria may be used with much 
advantage. It produces an immediate action on the skin, and is 
gently diuretic. During a very extensive practice in Norfolk, Virginia, 
in the years 1809 and 1810, while surgeon of the frigate United States, 
I had many opportunities of witnessing the efficacy of the serpentaria 
in cases similar to those above described, as well as in typhus fever. 
The sick lists were daily crowded with cases of fever incident to that 
climate, and arising from the exposure of the crew; and at one time 
they contained cases of typhus to the daily number of from twenty to 
forty for a month or six weeks together. It was my constant practice 
to use the serpentaria in those fevers, in various ways, as tincture, 
(the officinal,) in substance, and in union with camphor and Peru- 
vian bark. In no instance had I reason to be dissatisfied with this 
practice, to which I have adhered in a multitude of similar cases 
since that time, with the same beneficial effect. While I was attend- 
ing physician of the army in the fourth military district, during the 
late war, the hospital for recruits, and the lazaretto hospital, where 
I also prescribed, were continually crowded with cases of pneumonia 
typhoides. Many of the subjects of this disease, were afflicted with 
2 
