128: 
perfect evidence in general to be 'deduc- 
ed from them, is very materially weak- 
ened by the preat appearance of a want 
of candour, with which they are for the 
most part accompanied, and the evident’ 
disposition which they so frequently dis- 
cover to flatter the particular opinions 
of the person to whom they are ad- 
dressed. 
The author, under the term fumiga- 
tion, very improperly confounds every 
species of this process, and thus from 
the ill-success which attended the smok- 
ing of clothes’ and rooms formerly, and 
now occasionally practised, adduces a 
specious, though ‘an uncandid and fal- 
lacions argument, against the’ use’ of the 
plan lately brought forward. 
His tone may be judged of from the 
following remarks, which occur atothe 
begianing of the chapter on contagion 
and typhus: 
<The spirit of fumigation. had arrived at 
its full height, on the introduction of the 
nitrous vapour, published by a court physi-” 
cian, countenanced by the admiralty, and 
directed by the codex officialis of the sick 
and jhuart, board. But:not one of its sup- 
porters have vet, ventured or deigned to go 
one step into the inquiry concerning the .na- 
ture of contagion, or its chemical attraction 
for this vapour. ‘The naval department, 
they were led to’ believe, would eagerly em- 
brace the ‘practice, on the authorities which 
accompanied it ; but fortanately for the ser- 
vice of the country, it came ata time when 
the subject 6f health was beginning a new 
wera; and. when both officers and surgeons 
doubted the validity of what came. in so ques- 
tiopable a shape. 5 
ee The world has mow scen a second edi- 
tion of Dr, Smyth’s work ; an which he has 
published some reports of naval surgeons to 
the comimissioners Of sitk and hurt, on the 
supposed efficacy > of this anti-pestilential 
fume.) I donot mean at this: stage of the | 
tliseussion, to eriticise those seleet reports); 
but )[ feel. most unteignedly for the reputa- 
tion of the medical olkicers, when } behold 
olticial documents laid belore the public eve 
in defence of the grossest delusion. Yet 
these are all that ‘the ‘board have produced 
from sever’ hundred” gurteons, after seven 
years war! There is one thing for whieh 
give the repotters dae credit; attenizon to 
cleanliness is.a part of their operations. Bie 
at the same time J cannot help remarking 
the passive spirit of these geuilemen, with 
the fuming Pay in their hands, that they 
never asked themselves, what is the chemical 
nature ‘of this contagion? Does it possess 
form or Substance?’ How does this vapour 
act i destrovie it? These’ questions arosé 
so naturally from the employment of furmi- 
gation, that it ghows as mach a want of 
MEDICINE, SURGERY, ANATOMY, &c. 
_ only. ‘Yo say that the nitrous vapour sub- 
common curiosity, as it was unphilosophie, 
not. to interest, themselves, in the business. 
A disease disappearing, during the time any 
article of the materia medica is used, may re~ 
ceive the eredit of the cure from an ignorant, 
bystander, or a shallow observer; but the 
man who uotes the history of cases; the 
mind enguirtngafter truth niust weigh causes” 
and effects} draw conclusions from reasona- 
ble premises,’ and appeal to principles con- 
firmed by! ‘experiment and ;imatter’ of fact: 
dues contagion, without explainipg the man- 
ney, is like,the fly on the chariot wheelin the 
fable. It reminds me of a story told to chil- 
dren, that the great mogul orders a bell to be 
rung when he goes to dinner, and conceits 
that the whole world dines at the same time. 
Imlike manner, these gentlemen trim their 
pipkims, and conceit, while the fumes ass 
cend, that whatever’ is contagious within 
their reach, is anniliilated and destroyed.” 
We are nota little surprised, that Dr. - 
Trotter, who is not'a Fyro'in medicine, 
should bring forward a piece of decla+ 
mation so much at variance with the 
information) which practical ‘experience 
furnishes,:as that which we have now 
quoted: Is it necessary to know the 
proximate cause of a disease, and» the 
exact operation of a medicine; inorder 
to effect its cure? yiky pst 
And must we regard the cure of every: 
complaint as hopeless, when werare ‘igs 
norant of its. precise nature 3 ‘and throw: 
aside the use of every remedy: which 
experience has demonstrated to be sera’ 
viceable, merely because its mode of 
operation is unknown ? Surely Dr. Trot- 
ter will not assert, that because we are 
ignorant: of! the nature: of syphilitie. — 
poison, and of the mode in which mer-'\! 
cury operates in destroying it) that wwe * 
are to cast off rhe use of this ‘remedy, 
and leave’ the disease’to itself, until our 
knowledge of it i more) complete. 
And ‘yet ‘bis reasomh.g with regard to a 
destroyer of contagion, will go, on exa-" 
mination, precisely to that length. ‘Ihe: 
author admits, that the stenchyofibilge 
water may be destroyed by the nitrows 
fumigation, as was stated tohim by a 
captain of the.navy; im wletter whichis: 
inserted in this avorky) and the accounts 
for the etfecty-by sypposing,) that :the 
vapour .employed, :underwent!»certain 
chemical changes bycomingin contact 
with the offensive exhalation of ‘bilge 
waters “butvif thistiss adnnttedin. the’) 
present-instance;there deesy nat appeav. 
to be any thing unphilosophicalin: sups> 
posing) that, the samermay ‘take place >| 
when contagious matter comes im oon: / 
