LAURUS CAMPHORA. ORD, XL. Oleraceé. 689 
**-We have had here latcly, in a patient under the care of Mr. Lata, surgeon, 
a notable example of the use of Camphire in a maniacal case, which I think it 
proper to take notice of here,‘ 
“* This shows clearly enough the power of Caines in mania; and I have only 
_to add, that though in several other instances it has not made a cure, it has not in 
any instance of a moderate dose, that is, not exceeding half a dram, occasioned 
any disorder in the system; and in several cases it has induced sleep, and rendered 
the mind for some time more quiet. 
“¢ T observe that De Berger has been more successful; and perhaps the reason ef 
our failure has been our not attending to his admonition. In his letter to Werlhoff 
on the subject of Camphire, he has the following passage: Multoties hoc remedio 
in mea praxi utor, precipue in inflammationibus internis, magno cum successu, 
et demiror tam multos medicos ab usu cjus interno abhorrere. Non diu est, quod 
premissis premittendis maniacum eo sanitati penitus restitui.. In eo vero mo- 
mentum precipuum situm est, ut sufficienic dost et diu satis exhibeatur. 
“¢ This is particularly contiemed by a case given by Joerdens in the Gominerclitas 
Norimbergense. In several other writers there are accounts of maniacal and 
melancholic. cases cured’ by the use of Camphire; but many of the practitioners 
who report such cures acknowledge, that in many cases it had disappointed their 
expectations.* Whether these failures have been owing to the not employing at 
the same time nitre, vinegar, and some ether remedies which are supposed to con- 
tribute much to the virtues of Camphire, we would not determine; but we are 
elear that mania is a disease of considerable diversity with respect to its Sewers and 
that there are ceriain cases of it ee to mick Boned nae is properly a » In 
or any other reme re can be ore use. t 
‘© T have mentioned above, that asiousl practitioners have employed Camphire 
in the most acute inflammatory diseases; and therefore we are not surprised to find 
that it has been given also internally in cases of acute rheumatism; and it is said 
to have been with advantage.’ We have no experience of it, because we have 
© In the case here alluded to, the dose of ee was gradually increased to above sixty grains 
three times a day, by which a cure was effec 
* Dr. Ferriar, who gave Camphor in sbi maniacal cases, declares it to he “ totally useless 
fC 
in these disorders:” in one nf these cases two drams of Camphor, a scruple of musk, and eight 
ares ve tes were given daily, “ without producing sleep, or the smallest impression upon the 
ad. Hist. SF Reflections, p. VTA. 
oe We may ome remark, that nymphomania, and other local affections producing effects of a 
similar kind, Bd superinduce a general state of mania, in which Camphor has been found 
~~ especially usefi 
f See Rosenst, shi. f 7 Collin, 1. c. aliique. For its ts good effects in fevers of the inflam. . 
matory kind, we have the testimony of Werlhoff, De Berger, Albrecht, Wolf, Joerdeni, all to be 
found in the Commer. Norimb, 
No, 51.—von. 4. 8M 
