1805.] 



Rppirt of D'lfmfes. 



AbZ 



part been acflompanied Viy a pyrexial ftate, 

 'A'hich, although not either in its etTence 

 or cauic exn^ly the fa^e as Typhus., has 

 approximated to the typhoid coumenance 

 and charafler, ami, ot couife, appeared 

 to indicate a method of treatment conli- 

 derably analogous to that wliich is re- 

 quired in the management of the latter 

 difeafe. 



Oppreflioii of bodily ftrength and of 

 mental power have, for fome weeks pift, 

 ftiewn themlelves the prominent and nearly 

 univsrfal teatiires of morbid ;itfccli()n. 



The air, more efpecially in London 

 and in November, has an apparent and 

 important influence upon the faculties and 

 feelings of our frame. The mufcles are 

 relaxed, the nerves, to make u(e of an 

 intelligible phrafe, although it is founded 

 upon a fall'e phyfiolcgy, ■i\i.unj]ru7ig, ard 

 the fp.rits ill a greaser cr lefsd^gree deprelT- 

 ed, according to the varied proportion of 

 individual fufceptibility to be acted upon 

 by phyfical a"d exterior caufes. Our bo- 

 dies are ccnuantly immerfed in a bath of 

 " volatile corruption," the obn.xious in- 

 fluence of which inuft efpecially be ex- 

 perienced by valetudinarian, or other per- 

 ibns, who, after feaftine; duiingthe funi- 

 mer and autumnal monihs upon the en- 

 livening luxury of marine or rural oxygen, 

 have recently returned to inhale, anil be 

 enveloped by, the unwholefome and op- 

 prefTive mialmata of the metropolis. 



Scarlet fever has been of frequent oc- 

 currence ; a difeale once exrremely for- 

 niidabie, but which has become much lets 

 fo, in confcqucnct of modern amelioration 

 in the theory and practice of medicine. 



Tlje cold, or raher tepid abKiti-n, 

 whicii latter, whilft perhaps attended w-j-.h 

 nearly all the advantages, is not accom- 

 panied with f«)nie if the rifks and incon- 

 veniences that are apt to eni'ii: from the 

 fo.Hirr, ought to be cburnally etpployed 

 from the firll day of the (-ifcafe, until th? 

 Ja(t o\ is cou'inuance. Wiien luch treat- 

 nient has been accur.itely adhered to, little 

 fear may, in geneial, be entertained with 

 regard to a tavouiable and lat sfaftcry 

 rehilt. It miy be right, however, to no- 

 tice, that in this dlf.rdtr a deficiency of 

 g«treial, is not unfretjuently conoefled at 

 the (ame time with an excefs of local ex- 

 citement, which is calculated to occafion 

 I'ome vacillati'm of judgment, and ibme 

 unctrtainty in the pra6ltce of the phyli- 

 cian.*. 



• «' Any body may be a judge," faid a 

 young man to one holding that ofiice, " who 

 f.*a diftinguilh between bbcic and whiir." 

 " You forget, JH) fiitnd," replicd-the judi--, 



During the Icng-eontinurd feries of hi« 

 reports, the author has not mentioned, 

 except in his lill, t!.e clals of dropficaJ 

 afteftions, although no c-mplaints havs 

 fallen more frequently tinder his ohferva- 

 tion, are accompanied with more diftrelT- 

 ing fymptoms, or are more generally fatal 

 in their ultiina'e iil'uc. The liitie iiu- 

 preffi n that medicine is capable of pro- 

 ducing upon fuch cafes, has perhaps been 

 one reafon w'hy they have net bfe.i par- 

 ticularly noticed. For the mctt part they 

 are, both in the inferior and higher clafies 

 of focieiy, the melancholy refult of pro- 

 trafied memptrance. The patient of 

 either rank will in general be found, in 

 fpite of his indifcretion, to enjoy a free- 

 dom fiom pofitive indKpofition, and an 

 ordinary and comfortable degree of vi- 

 gour, un il a little alter he has pafTcd 

 flirty years of age. At that period he is, 

 for the firif tltiie, attacked with general 

 dropiy, a diopfy of the abdomen, or a 

 dropfy of the chelf . 



The debauchee is not aware that, al- 

 though the ruin of his frame appears ob- 

 vious and abrupt, the caufes which Slij- 

 mately efFeffed it havr been long and (sleiit 

 in their operation. There is no impru- 

 dence with regard to health that does 

 not tell; and thole are f'und in the event 

 t > Ailfer moft effentiallv, that do not ap- 

 pear to I'ufF^r immediately (rom evciy 

 individual aft i.f indifcietion. It is fucK 

 free livers of rohull and fturdy (famina, 

 that are moll liable to.the diftieffing, a:;d 

 almoff invariably fatal, difeafe, 'which is 

 ib taithfuily as well a.<; feelingly delineated 

 by an author of the piclent day. " It is • 

 oiten found imprafficable even to relieve 

 the dropfy of inicmperance. The drop- 

 fical can have no teafonable expecfaiion 

 of being able to e"joy the pl^aiures ot 

 exilfence in full mealure. i.n tha: drcBrf^ 

 tul compiainf, dropiy of the cl-.e t r.r 

 lungs, inc tuxg] ive in particular, ani 

 Ibiiietirnes ether medicines, will often pro- 

 cur.; a rcfpiie; and the pa, lent vi\\ leein 

 fo himfelt quire renovated But the gleam 

 is generally fliort. The tile fl ws back. 

 The diiUefs rt^commenccs. The lame 

 means, indeed, commonly procure ano'ber 

 inteiv^l : hut it is Icfs peifei5f and fhorter. 

 At lait it comes to be a> on board a (hip 

 in fpringing a Ic :k that can lot be ft rppcu. 

 No Ibor.er do the pumps ceai'e to work 

 than the water rif(?s in the h.jM. If me- 

 dicine difchargei the /water one day, it i& 



" that in Uw thfre are gny cafes." There 

 ate many grry caffs in int'dicine; 



Mo«t'ii\Ud,r'^l Sk.tihet. 

 ■TtK 



