163 - [im 
and render the common air distressing to the pa- 
tient. Dr. Rush attached much importance te 
these inbalations in consumption. I however am 
disposed to view them, from my own experience 
of their effects under the direction of Dr. Rush, on 
patients in my care in the Pennsylvania Hospital 
in 1809, and from my own repeated trials of them 
since in public and private practice, rather as pal- 
liative than curative agents in this disease. Ii 
former light I deem them important and beneficial. — 
Dr. Mudge has spoken of some cures of consump- 
tion, by the fumes of common resin. The cases’ 
are insulated. Nitrous vapours have been reported 
to be efficacious in hooping cough. Mr. Patter- 
son attests their efficacy. Stramonium roots cut 
up and smoked in a pipe, were about 12 or 15 years 
since very much used, in asthma. The accounts 
of the eflicacy of this kind of inhalation, are va- 
rious and contradictory. I have extensively pre-. 
_ seribed them in the alms house of this city, in such - 
cases ; and in some instances with great benefit, in 
some with less, in some without any positive ef- 
fect, and in more with inconvenience to the patient. 
Dr. Eberle mentions that he has never prescribed 
- them with the slightest benefit. I cannot help at-. 
 tributing this to the mode of administration ; and 
I shall therefore point out, in detail, in the lec- 
tures, the proper plan. : 
The respiration of oxygen, hydrogen and ni- 
trogen gasses, during the rage of pneumatic 
medicine, were all reputed curative and palliative. 
Some well attested cases of both effects are to be 
found in Beddoes’ work on this subject, but the dif- 
ficulty of employing them in erdinary practice 
will ever prevent their nse. ; 
As prophylactics, different fumigations and in- 
halatious have been used. These will be detailed. - 
in the lectures ; 
ee 
