1824] 
[ 269 ] 
MEDICAL REPORT. 
Report of Diszasss and Casuattixs occurring in the public or private Practice of 
the Physician who has the care of the Western District of the City, Dispensary. 
—— 
URPRISE has often been expressed, 
\—Y that persons who are in the practice of 
minutely investigating the mechanism of 
the human frame, should not be in constant 
apprehension of deranging, by every motion 
of their limbs, some part of the nice and 
complicated structure of which their bodies 
are composed. It may be considered as at 
least equally surprising, that observers, who 
are in the constant custom of witnessing the 
disorganizing effects of spirituous potatien, 
should not connect a sort of suicidical con- 
sciousness with the contemplation of having 
recourse, either habitually or occasionally, 
to any thing in the way of excitation beyond 
the absolutely requisite sustenances of life. 
Such prudery of restraint would, however, 
by no means be desirable : it comes within 
the compass both of physical and moral pro- 
priety now and then to urge on the languid 
powers, and to enjoy the hilarity of a social 
glass. But it is really striking (and it 
ought to be practically impressive), to ob- 
serve under what different circumstances 
the closing years of life are encountered by 
one, who has been in the daily habit of 
yielding to self-indulging dictates ;—from 
another, who has resolutely said nay to the 
allurements of alcohol, under the feeling 
that it is not in the power of wine or spirits 
to effect. more than a temporary good, and 
that net with impunity. In the one case, 
—and the writer has recently had opportu- 
nities of witnessing the contrast now re- 
corded,—in the one case, the individual 
encompassed about with the integrity of 
unimpaired organization (“ med virtute me 
involvo”’), submits only to death, when its 
powers are backed by time and circum- 
stances, and then gives himself up a willing 
victim to the ordinances of nature ; while, 
in the other, death seizes upon the organs 
before he can conquer the man—takes pos- 
session of the streets and lanes, while the 
citadel still holds out—and a struggle en- 
sues, of frightful severity, but of certain 
issue. 
It must be admitted, that organic diseases 
sometimes destroy life; the occurrence of 
which has been spontaneous and specific, 
or without especial reference to exterior 
«cause; but, in a considerable number of 
instances, to say the least, these injuries to 
parts, however slowly and insidiously pro- 
duced, are of self-infliction and might be 
obviated by self-controul. 
more at another time. 
The preceding month, besides its usual 
share of stomach and bowel complaints, has 
been remarkable for the frequent occurrence 
of excruciating pains among the muscles of 
the extremities, which, while they are more 
allied in their circumstances and character 
to rheumatism than to any other complaint, 
have still been somewhat different. The 
violence of the pain has indeed been directed 
rather to the muscular fibres than to the 
joints, and any, even the smallest attempt at 
motion, not of the joint but of the limb, has 
been met by the most agonizing feelings. 
The reporter’s practice, for the most part, 
has been to loosen these strong holds of 
paralyzing pain by the administration of 
elaterium ; this most powerful and useful 
medicine serves the double purpose of ex- 
citing nausea, with which much pain is 
almost incompatible, and of carrying off 
from the bowels any offending material, with 
which the disorder from the first might have 
had to do in the way of syrupathetic con- 
nection. But elateriuno is a medecine 
which requires much care in its adjustment 
to circumstances, and much caution in the 
regulation of its dose. It has, like many 
other things, as well inthe materia medica 
as in’ the materia mundi, its evil attached to 
its good; and unless its good be employed 
with réstrictive prudence, its evil will soon 
be manifested. : 
Affections of the head have likewise been 
frequent during the few past weeks; they 
have for the most part been marked rather 
by muscular action of considerable violence, 
than by positive inflammation. The’ heart 
has in some’ instances visibly. partaken of 
the commotion, and it has been necessary 
to bridle in the circulating energies with a 
powerful hand in order to prevent resulting 
injury. When you haye this ruffle and 
rampancy of yessel with low nervous energy, 
contra-indications are presented to the prac- 
titioner, which demand an occasional pause 
in the pursuit of one particular principle ; 
and system apart, it is of importance to 
recollect that high action will not always be 
controlled by, nay that it does not invariably 
demand, depletory measures. 
_ D.Uwiys, M.D. 
Bedford-row, Sept. 20th 1824. 
But of this, 
ALPHABETIVAL 
