1S$22. 
derate blood-letting fn exciting the absorbent 
faculty, and the writer of these papers be- 
lieves that much of the good ascribed to de- 
pletion in a direct manner, is property attri- 
butable to its indirect agency. The subduc- 
tion even of inilammiution is not perhaps so 
simple and straight-forward a process as is 
usually conceived, but is effected, partiy at 
least, by an impulse given to the absorbents, 
and when venesection is had recourse to in 
complaints marked by deficiency of power, 
the principe at present adverted to is most 
decidedly operative. Sydenham was wont 
_to commence his course of therapeutic ope- 
rations by a single bleeding, even in cases of 
chlorosis, and the success of the plan justi- 
fied its adoption ; but then he did not, as is 
too much the case wilh some of our modern 
venesectors, look upon depletion us the alpha 
2nd omega of all remedial powers, but on 
tbe contrary, cousidered it as a mere preli- 
minary and make-way for strengthening 
medicinals: and the father of medicine has 
observed that debilitating measures, however 
occasionally necessary, must be instituted 
with circumspection, and conducted with 
e@are, xevwoees es 70 ery clay wyscul, FPudepces. 
A remarkable case of congestion in tlfe brain, 
connected with nervous weakuess, has just 
fallen under the observation of the writer, in 
which the combined operations of pulling 
down and building up, have been most une- 
- quivoeally useful, and which is here alluded 
to from the circumstance of its having been 
thought by some persons, that to let out blood 
was both to let and shut owt the disorder. If 
. the reporter be. charged with urging the ne- 
cessity of caution in these particulars, with 
“an undue pertinacity, he replies, that his 
frequent allusion to the subject is founded on 
ibe conviction that we are apt either to be 
too fearless, or too fearful of pouring out the 
vital fluid. He should be glad to feel that it 
was in his own power always to fall upon 
the correct medium; but daily experience 
convinces him that to propound dogmatia and 
to practise satisfactorily are very different 
affuirs. 
Within the last few days, another case has 
eecurred, in which the utility of the croton 
oil has been most unquestionably displayed. 
It was a case of obstinate constipation, whick 
threatened serious consequences from its con- 
Agricultural Report, 
73 
tinuance, but which, although it had refused 
to give way before some very drastic eathar- 
tics, almost immediately yielded to two drops 
of the oil in question, made into a small pill 
with crumb of bread. It is the concentration 
as well as the great power of this drug that 
renders it so important an addition to the list 
of medicines, and in cases where deglutition 
is impeded almost to suspension, it may 
be sometimes employed with effect; for as 
remarked in a former paper, merely to rub 
the tongue witha cork moistened by the oil 
is often tv accomplish every purpose. 
Affections of the larynx and trachea, which, 
without much care, are apt to be confounded 
with pulmonary and consumptive maladies, 
are frequent in their occurrence. To the 
pathology of these important parts of organ- 
ization, the attention of systematics has not 
perhaps hither/o been sufficiently given; but 
as metaphysical or abstract, gives way to 
anatomical or stru¢tual nosology, we shall 
find that the deficiency complained of will 
come to be remedied by succeeding observers. 
It was with much satisfaction that the writer 
perused a very interesting little paper on this 
subject, from the elegant pen of Dr. Walker, 
of Huddersfield, in the last number of the 
Medical Repository ; and Dr. Abercrombie 
has recently added to the obligations be had 
already laid the profession under, by euter- 
ing somewhat largely into the discriminating 
marks between real and pseudo consump- 
tion. The papers of Dr. A, are to be found 
in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Jour- 
nal—a journal which has from iis commence- 
ment been conspicuous for the excellence of 
its original communications. : 
In an instance of tracheal secretion, the 
result of previous inflammation, but at 
length connected with signal debility, (and 
in which suffocation was menaced by the 
copiousness of discharge from the membrane) 
much benefit has been derived from the in- 
halation of tar-vapour, a medicine which, in 
these cases of mucous secretion, from in- 
duced weakness, may be made use of with 
a prospect of advantage ; but the writer has 
witnessed its injurious tendency when applied 
to consumptive ailment of an inflammatory 
kind and genuine character. 
D. Uwins, M.D. 
Bedford Row, Jan. 20, 1822. 
MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
Epes report consists merely of the echo 
of former distresses. With respect 
to the routine of Country business, there is 
nothing of novelty or interest to mention. The 
wheats, where they have not been flooded, 
are generally foundto look well; but drawn 
upward as they have been, by a constant se- 
ries of warm and moist weather, without the 
slightest check from frost, the apprehension 
is far from being groundless, that they may 
be exhausted by excessive vegetation, and ul- 
Montuty Maa, No. 364. 
timately be more productive in straw than 
cor. It was supposed last month, from the 
wet and peachy state of a great part of the 
lands, that much of the wheat sowing must 
be postponed till after Christmas; but from 
subsequent accounts, in spite of all difficulties 
it seems, that a finish has been generaily 
made. Talavera (Spanish) wheat is getting 
out of repute; perhaps corn from a warm 
climate, should never be sown in this country 
in the autumn, until it shall have become na- 
re turalized 
