1826.) _ Monthly Medical Report. _ 445 
proved tedious, not having thelr crisis (or turn) till the twenty-first, day ;.and a few, have 
been eyen prolonged beyond this, by accompanying cough, but no alarming or malig- 
nant symptoms ,haye.in.any one . instance_been witnessed. , Languor. and weakness 
swere almost the only. symptoms complained of; and with the: single exception, of 
cough, the reporter.has not met, with any local complications, . No evidence, more con- 
yincing could have been, adduced of the constitutional origin.of feyer.. There were, not 
the smallest grounds for suspecting. inflammations either of the brain or bowels, eyen in 
the mostremote or datent degree. The disease affected every organ and function of, the 
body equally, and therefore if any seat was to be assigned to it, a more appropriate one 
_ could. not have been selected than that which the ancients devised,—the blood, which: is 
‘so equally diffused over every part of the body. .In the treatment, of this fever, mild 
aperients during the whole course of the disease were found very useful, especially 
rhubarb. In its early stages, saline draughts with antimony, and in the latter the same 
in combination with ether, were freely given, and the uniformity of success afforded a 
sufficient proof of the sufficiency of this treatment. Where the cough was trouble- 
some.a blister was appliedito.the chest, but in general a mucilaginous mixture, with the 
syrup of poppies, removed the symptom. - ; 
The second form of epidemic ailment which the last month has produced, is rheuma- 
tism, and the reporter. has. met. with it in the several forms of acute rheumatic fever 
[confining the patient to his bed), of common rheumatism with flying pains, of lum- 
bago, and sciatica. . In every instance the disease could be manifestly traced to im- 
prudent exposure to cold, although it must be confessed that, with very few exceptions, 
a predisposition to rheumatism existed from prior attacks of the disorder, . This ten- 
dency of rheumatism to rivet itself in the habit, is perhaps the most,unfayourable cir- 
eumstance in the history of the disease, which, though always painful, and often tedious, 
never exhibits in its progress. any thing of a dangerous or malignant charaeter.. The 
sual treatment has been successfully pursued by the reporter in those eases which 
have lately fallen under his care. The meadow-saffron has supported its reputation in 
those seyerer forms of the disorder which attack the secreting surfaces about joints ; 
while in the lighter grades of the disease, where the muscles, ligaments, and other, non- 
secreting structures. are attacked, Jocal stimuli in the form of spirituous embrocations, 
with Dover’s powder, have afforded the requisite degree of relief, . Bark. was found 
serviceable in.some of.those cases where predisposition from previous attacks was most 
decisively manifest. , : y eget alee 
Sore throat has been, so general. during the. past month as to. merit especial notice, 
and in many of the.cases which fell, under the reporter’s observation proved. both. trou- 
blesome and obstinate. ...The application of leeches to the throat, and under the angles 
of the lower jaw, afforded in several of these cases very prompt and effectual relief, 
and to all appearance prevented suppuration. The reporter is induced to mention this 
apparently trifling cireumstance, beeause he finds it recorded as the opinion of a most 
eminent physician, the late Dr. Baillie, that such means very rarely prevent suppura- 
tion, but only tend to protract that issue, increasing thereby the length, without sensi- 
bly diminishing the intensity of the patient’s sufferings ; in one ease, where matter had 
decidedly formed, the bursting of the abscess was promoted by the operation of an 
emetic. ; 
Cholera has been fully as common during: this. as the preceding month, and it has 
maintained very much of the same mild character. In its treatment, medicines’ of very 
opposite qualities have been found serviceable. One. gentleman has subdued some 
very severe cases by ten grains of calomel ; another trusts, with equal confidence, to 
small dozes of laudanum; while in the reporter’s practice, nothing has proved. so 
effectual as ether and aromatic. confection given in peppermint water. The true reason 
of these apparent differences will probably be found in the natural mildness. of the epi- 
demic. The. evacuations, which constitute the disease, are sufficient to rid the system - 
of the noxious cause, without entailing any formidable consequences. Hence it hap- 
pens, that after the lapse of a certain number of hours, the medicine first given has the 
credit of removing the disorder. | Kei 
While the reporter has the satisfaction-ofrecording, in this’ manner, the compara- 
tive mildness of the principal epidemics of the season, it becomes his duty, at the same 
time, to notice the prevalence of some other disorders in which a similar result has 
unhappily not. beew obseryable... Affections of the head have been rather more general 
than usual, and, two. of those, under the reporter’s care, have proved fatal... Consump- 
tion too, im spite, of the season, has continued to hurry off its victims, The reporter. 
has. lost three during the past month, ‘The extraordinary prevalence of this deplorable 
malady had previously attracted his attention, and been noticed in the pages of this. 
Journal. The utmost efforts of art appear to be unavailing,-in stemming the ad-. 
vanees, of this insidious. disease, which almost appears to increase, in proportion as 
Datedeanins skill of ,the physician arrests the progress of, other disorders... ., 
M GEORGE GREGORY, M.D.) 
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5 Sateen ead o 7 eri 2 j ¥ J 
Caner as streely Arolden-square,. September 23, 1826... Te ca dliee 
OH ON Seek VoL. TUN 10 3M” snes 
