118 SIXTH RKPORT — 1836. 



tinued to render reddened litmus paper blue, and emitted a somewhat 

 caustic odour, not an ammoniacal one. When evaporated to dryness, 

 the residue was white, and covered the bottom of the crucible in the 

 form of a dried membrane. When heated, it became first red, then black, 

 and gave out dark fumes and a strong smell of decomposed animal mat- 

 ter. When ignited 0*8 gr remained at the bottom of the crucible in 

 the form of a white fused mass. Water being poured on the mass, the 

 whole of it dissolved, with the exception of a few flocks. During the 

 evaporation the evolution of ammonia was apparent. The nature of this 

 complaint being thus quite obv'ious, the treatment consequent upon it is 

 apparent. The author accordingly has found the emi^loyment of acid 

 an effectual remedy. He recommends, however, when the disease is 

 of considerable standing, to employ also anodynes, because the nerves 

 being affected they require a direct application. He has found also that 

 if the acid treatment is carried further than is necessary to re-establish 

 the natural secretion, acid dyspepsia is apt to supervene. It is there- 

 fore proper to use in the first instance acid, and then bark or quinine. 

 He has observed the disease to be excited in many cases by apples and 

 porter ; but has detected no general laws which seem to regulate the 

 disease, as it occurs in persons of all ages, and of different constitutions 

 and countries. 



II. 1st. From an extended series of observations the author has de- 

 duced the conclusion that the fluid of the mouth in the natural state is 

 either alkaline or neutral, generally the former, in conformity with the 

 results of Dr. Donn6 of Paris. This gentleman has observed that when 

 one of the poles of a delicate galvanometer is placed on the tongue and 

 the other on the cheek, the needle deflects 15°, 20°, or 30°, in which 

 case the mucus of the mouth will be the negative side and the skin the 

 positive side ; consequently the current proceeds from the mouth to the 

 skin. Hence we have a kind of bile, which is formed by causing an acid 

 and an alkali to communicate by means of an intermediate body. These 

 experiments have been repeated and confirmed by Matteucci of Florence. 



2nd. The author has confirmed the results of Donnd relative to the 

 secretions from the mucous and serous membranes being acid in inflam- 

 mation. He has found this particularly in laryngitis, bronchitis, pneu- 

 monia, and in low typhoid fever, as well as in inflammatory diseases. 

 He found the principal constituent of the membrane deposited in croup 

 to be a substance approaching nearer to albumen in its properties than 

 any other known matter, which would give support to the opinion that 

 morbid products are deposited by the acid secreted on the surface of 

 membranes. If this should turn out to be the case, the author sug- 

 gested that an excellent method of retarding the formation of the mem- 

 brane in the treatment of croup would be by the inhalation of ammonia. 



The author, in conclusion, directed the attention of the Medical Sec- 

 tion to the importance of these facts as features of diagnosis, and also 

 as pointing out an improved method of practice by the local ap2:)lication 

 of alkaline solutions, frequently repeated, to inflamed surfaces, as in 

 gonorrhoea, sore throat, erysipelas, and all diseases where the natural 

 secretion was alkaline and the abnormal one acid. 



