470 



ylgricuhm-al Report. 



[June 1, 



medicinal plan is gradually operating^ the 

 desired cflect — the pulse assumes more 

 steadiness and character, the hectic irrita- 

 tion is upon the decrease, and the size of 

 the head is lessened. 



It has happened to the writer in the 

 course of the month, lo attend also a case 

 of hydrocephalus, iu an adult. This was 

 at Fulhani, and the gentleman in ordinary 

 attendance had decided upon its being an 

 example of eft'usion contrary to the opi- 

 nion of another practitioner, who reg-arded 

 the case as rathero:!eof common apoplectic 

 congestion. ^Vilh Mr. Wansbrough, the 

 reporter found every renson to join issue 

 in sentiment, and digitalis with both the 

 external and internal administralion of 

 cantharides was prescribed. This medi- 

 cinal plan was instituted with a view at 

 once of exciting- absorption, and produc- 

 ing a vicarious, metastatic action ; and the 

 event has happily accorded with the hopes 

 with which it was suggested. The uri- 

 nary organs were violently excited, a co- 

 pious exudation of a lymphatic fluid took 

 place from the ear, and the patient has 

 recovered. Mr. Wansbrough writes word 

 that he is preparing a full account of the 

 particulars of this case for publication in 

 an early volume of the London Medical 

 Repository. 



To the absorbent faculty, iu the opinion 

 of the.writer, much more attention is due 

 in the practice of medicine than is gene- 

 rally given ; even common inflammation 

 cannot be subdued without a certain mea- 

 sure of impulse being- imparted to those 

 vessels which are especially engaged iu 

 the developement of that function. Mr. 

 Magendie has lately shewn, by a beautiful 

 series of experiments, that vensesectiou 

 proves ofteu more serviceable by the free- 

 dom which it gives to the exercise of the 

 absorbents, than by its immediately seda- 

 tive operation upon the arterial system of 

 vessels. It is upon this principle indeed, 

 that moderate bleeding often proves so 



beneficial, even in those morbid states, 

 the counteraction of which is eventually 

 to be secured by stimulating agency ; and 

 in which a cordial may often thus be con- 

 veyed at the point of the lancet. 



Infantile atlections, which at once impli- 

 cate the mesentery and mucous membrane 

 of the bowels, continue to be among the 

 ordinary occurrences of practice. It be- 

 hoves the physician to give prompt at- 

 tention to these disordered states, since 

 not only is the source of n\Uriment in- 

 terfered with by the glandular disease, 

 but the local mischief comes at length, if 

 not arrested toproduce extensive disorg:ini- 

 zation of parts, and the complaint which 

 commenced as one simply of obstruction 

 terminates in inflammatory disorganisa- 

 tion ; it is iu these maladies too that the 

 fox-glove, in combination with other alte- 

 rative medicinals, displays a decided 

 agency, and it does so by virtue of the 

 combined power with which it is endowed 

 — that of quelling the iuordinancy of arte- 

 rial excitations, and stimulating the lan- 

 guid absorbents. The Hydrarg. cum cretd 

 of the London Pharmacopoeia is also an ad- 

 mirable medicinal under these circum- 

 stances, if administered before the inflam- 

 matory actions have become too confirmed 

 and cxtenctive. 



The writer has recently received from 

 his friend. Dr. Williams, of Ipswich, addi- 

 tional testimonials in evidence of the pecu- 

 liar virtues possessed by the .veerf.v of col- 

 ehicum in rheumatic and some otherchronic 

 complaints. These will be found in the 

 Medical Repository of the present month ; 

 and, coming- from such authority as that 

 Just mentioned, will not fail to excite much 

 interest, and induce, on the part of the 

 readers, further trial. In the next paper 

 may probably be found a report of some 

 experiments on the etfeet of these seeds iu 

 the reporter's own practice. 



D. UwiNS.M.D. 



Bedford Ron-, May 20, 1821. 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



THE weather has continued variable 

 throughout the mouth, with sudden 

 alternations of heat and cold, which assur- 

 edly must have had an ill effect on every 

 species of vegetation to a certain degree ; 

 and the blossoms of all fruit trees have 

 suffered from the blight : but as they were 

 iu such luxuriant plenty, a sutficieucy is 

 said to remain for an abundant crop. Of 

 grass the shew is great, both in the feed- 

 ing and hay districts. The same with lu- 

 cern, clover, and other grasses. Some 

 clovers, which it was supposed had failed, 

 have lately recovered, from the showery 

 weather, and now exhibit a strong plant. 



Tares also are improved, and the potatoe 

 plants are improving. The wheats gener- 

 ally, appear strong and healthy, and al- 

 though a month since they were remark- 

 ably backward upon some good lauds, on 

 others they are at present iu the opposite 

 extreme. All the spring crops have a 

 thriving and luxuriant appearance, and 

 the beans which were cut by the frosts, 

 now want but the genial warmth of the 

 sun for their full recovery. The thin set 

 wheats, within the last two or three weeks, 

 have tillered away luxuriantly. The tur- 

 nip lands are getting into order. Hops 

 have received some check from the vari- 

 able 



