Natural History. \W 



to be serous cists, a cure was effected, it is also suggested 

 that iodine may be useful in cases of dropsy. 



In proposing these various views of the probable use of 

 iodine, Dr. Coindet disclaims any idea of making it an universal 

 medicine. He remarks that all these diseases have something 

 in common, and that the action of the remedy on the absorbent 

 system, is the principle on which he founds his hope of its utility 

 in them. — Bib. Univer, xvi. p. 320. 



2. Use of Nitrate of Silver in Medicine. — The Giornalc di 

 Fisica, torn, xi., contains at p. 355, a paper by II C. Sementini, 

 on the use of nitrate of silver in cases of epilepsy. After re- 

 marking on the difficulty which occurs in treating such cases, 

 and the good effects that have been observed in using the ni- 

 trate of silver, and its superiority in this respect over all other 

 remedies, both as to the effect it produces, and the little incon- 

 venience it causes ; the Cavalier states, that to secure the good 

 effects belonging to it, the nitrate of silver should be well tritu- 

 rated with the vegetable extract, in combination with which it 

 is given ; that the first doses should be small, and the quantity 

 gradually increased to six or eight grains, or even more, in a 

 day : that the use should not be continued very long together ; 

 and that the patient should keep out of the action of light. 

 The latter precaution is necessary, to prevent the discoloration 

 of the skin, which sometimes happens after a long and copious 

 use of this remedy. The precaution, however, only regards 

 avoiding the meridian sun-light. 



It frequently happens, in the use of this medicine, that a 

 species of cutaneous eruption, consisting of small pustules, 

 occurs. This may be regarded as a certain proof of the good 

 effects of the medicine. 



In the early part of this paper, II C. Sementini, in endeavouring 

 to remove the impression elxisting against nitrate of silver, be- 

 cause of its poisonous qualities, remarks, that being mixed with 

 vegetable extract, it is not really the salt, but the oxide, that is 

 given ; and, therefore, the observations of M. Orfila, on the ni- 

 trate as a poison, have nothing to do with the power of the re- 

 medy. At the same time, as an argument for using the nitrate 

 in place of the oxide, it is remarked, that at the moment of de- 

 composition a combination is, probably, effected between the 

 extract and the oxide ; and that actually the salt is found most 

 efficacious. 



Being assured of the use of nitrate of silver in epileptic affec- 

 tions, and reasoning upon its tonic effect, II C. Sementini was 

 induced to try its powers as a remedy in cases of paralysis. The 

 first instance quoted is of a gilder, who, probably from the fumes 

 of mercury, had become very paralytic. An eighth of a grain 

 of nitrate of silver was prescribed at first, but the dose was in- 

 creased every other day ; by the time that three grains were 



