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trials have been repeated by Dr. Johnson, myself and others, until 

 we have no more doubt of the efficacy of Cimicifuga in the early 

 stages of acute rheumatism, than we have of the power of vaccina- 

 tion as a preventive of variola. Dr. Johnson found the most acute 

 and severe cases that ever came under his observation, to yield to 

 its influence, not only more speedily, but more perfectly and with 

 less clanger of metastasis to other organs, than to any other form of 

 treatment. 



The onlv visible effects of the medicine are diminution of the 

 force and frequency of the pulse, disappearance of the arth- 

 ritic pains and inflammation, with occasional vertigo or disposition 

 to fall on attempting to assume the erect attitude. We place the 

 more reliance on these observations of Dr. Johnson, not only on 

 account of his deservedly high reputation as a practitioner, but be- 

 cause many of his trials were made in the wards of the hospital, 

 where cases could be selected, and all the elements of comparison 

 were much more perfect than in private practice. We are well 

 aware that many other practitioners have used the cimicifuga in 

 rheumatism without the same happy results. But in every instance 

 where we have had the opportunity to make the inquiry, we have 

 found that they had mistaken the kind of cases, and the stage of the 

 disease to which it is most applicable. From its being almost uni- 

 formly represented by medical writers as a stimulating excitor of 

 the various secretions, the inference has been very naturally drawn, 

 that it could only be applicable in the sub-acute and chronic forms 

 of the disease, or at most, in the latter stages of the acute form. 

 Whereas, in truth, these are precisely the class of cases in which it 

 proves of comparatively little value; for its curative powers being 

 dependent entirely on its sedative influence exerted (as we believe) 

 through the nerves of organic life, it can only prove effectual when 

 given in the early stages before the occurrence of those fibrinous de- 

 posits around the ligaments and parts affected, which so generally 

 occur in the latter stages of protracted acute cases, and in all the 

 more chronic forms of the disease. It may prove serviceable as an 

 adjuvant to other remedies even in such cases, but it is only in the 

 acute form of rheumatism that its own complete curative power is 

 exhibited. And, indeed, we may say, as expressed to us by Dr. 

 Johnson a few days since, that the more acute the disease the more 

 prompt and decided will be the action of the remedy. The proper- 

 ties we have attributed to the Cimicifuga, will readily suggest its 

 applicability to the treatment of many other forms of disease besides 



