TROTTER’S MEDICINA NAUTICA. 
tact with the nitrous vapour. The re- 
sult of the latier combination is certainly 
unknown; but there is nothing so ab- 
surd in the supposition of its taking 
place, as to interrupt an examination into 
the ‘real merits of nitric vapour in de- 
stroying contagion. . The author seems 
to entertain an idea of its being a part 
of the doctrine of the advocates for ni- 
trous fumigation to suppose, that the 
oxygene contained in the acid, is afford- 
ed to the atmosphere, and thus assists in 
purifying jt. He therefore asks, with 
much self-complacence, what becomes of 
the azote with which it was previously 
combined? It must be observed, how- 
ever, that the idea thus attributed to the 
advocates for nitrous fumigation, forms 
no part of their doctrine, which goes no 
further than to point out a mods by 
which the power of contagion is destroy- 
ed, without attempting to determine by 
what means this effcct is produced. ‘The 
author’s extensive> experience confirms 
the observations ef Dr. Currie, with re- 
ard to the use of cold affusion in ty- 
phus; The large and indiscriminate use 
of bark is condemned, and the employ- 
ment of antimonials in the advanced 
stages of this disease considered im- 
roper. 
5 Bat auhicen, he is of opinion, have 
hitherto been conducted on very errone- 
ous principles. By way of speedily and 
effectually purifying any contaminated 
goods, he thinks there-should be proper 
“establishments, where they might be ex- 
posed for a certain time to moderate 
heat, and a free current of air. To 
these institutions, he would add a small 
medical establishment, where affected 
ersons, or those suspected of being so, 
might be detained, with the advantages 
of proper medical aid, 
The author has not been ableto deter- 
mine, how far contagion may be carried: 
by the air, but he supposes that a few 
yards may be sufficient for perfect 
safety. 
The chapter on ventilation is princi- 
pally directed to officers, and contains 
many useful directions, on the mode of 
procuring a free supply of air to the. 
Jower decks, and removing from them 
what has been yitiated. As an instance 
of the great necessity of such a supply, 
the author states, that in the summet 
season and warm climates, the Orlop 
deck ¢»mes very near, in some corners, 
toa vacuum, as he frequently ascertained 
by the sweat bursting out as soon as he 
729 
entered it. What the doctor’s ideas of 
a vacuum may be, we know not, but 
we confess it to be greatly beyond our 
powers of conception, to imagine such a 
state to occur, where the communication 
with the surrounding air is uninterrupt~ 
ed. His own feelings may be very good 
evidence with himself, but we must own 
that though we ran the risk of having 
reflections thrown upon us.for dullness, 
they do not, to our minds, in this in- 
stance, completely prove his position. 
We suspect that the author’s informa. 
tion is incorrect, when he states, * that 
experiments havelately been made, that 
prove the proportion of the oxygene to ” 
be greater in the island of Martinique 
than in Great-Britain.””» The most accu- 
rate observations which have come to our 
notice, shew no difference in the propor 
tions of the component parts of atmos- 
pheric air. in any part of the world. 
Dr. Trotter considers dry rubbing with 
sand, as a much beiter method of clean- 
ing decks, than, the continual use, of 
water, which, besides keeping up a con- 
stant dampness. that is very inimical to: 
health, disposes the wood to rot, and, by 
leaving saline particles on the iron, nails, 
‘&c. rusts them and thus weakens the 
on mt 
ship. | : 
‘Two short chapters are devoted to ob- . 
servations outhe smalland cow-pox,and 
to pneumonia, catarrh, and opthalmia, , 
(ophthalmia) ; after whieh the author » 
goes on to phthisis pulmonalis, a dis- 
ease, which he informs us has been par- ' 
ticularly frequent among seamen since 
the year 1800. The very long cruises 
made in blocking up the enemy’s fleets ; 
the severe duty required of the men 
sometimes at sea, but more particularly 
in the short periods of equipment ; and 
the constant use of lemon juice, served, 
in the author’s opinion, to dispose very 
‘much to attacks of this complaint. His 
idea of its proximate cause is, that it 
consists in an exhausted excitability,. in 
which the arteries have an increased ire . 
ritability, while the lymphatic system is. 
torpid. He is inclined to agree with 
Dr. Beddoes cn the good effects of a 
lowered atmosphere, in the cure of this 
‘complaint ; and considers it highly im- 
proper to employ the debilitating plan. 
The. author very humanely and very 
properly recommends, that whenever a 
seaman is at all indisposed, he should 
be kept from duty for some time, in or- 
der to prevent the occurrence of a serious 
indisposition, 
