Surgical Cases 'hi the City Dlspensar?/, 81 



In another case, six grains of calomel and twenty-four 

 grains of jalap were divided into six pills, one of which was 

 taken every second morning, and operated as a powerful 

 cathartic : at the end of ten days the gums became tender, 

 and the saliva was secreted in a large quantity. The last 

 pill was taken on the eleventh day, and I was requested to 

 see the patient on the 14th day; when the head and face 

 were much swollen, the tongue, gums, and inside of the 

 cheeks were ulcerated very exteusivelv, the saliva flowing 

 in a profuse manner. No food could be taken, not even in 

 a fluid state. The unfavourable symptoms continued to in- 

 crease till the 20th day, when locked jaw came on, and the 

 patient was in the most imminent danger. No medicine 

 could be taken, nor even a gargle used, at this time. More 

 benefit appeared to be derived from the use of steam, by 

 holding the head over warm water, than by all the medi- 

 cines which had been exhibited ; and although the patient 

 began to mend on the 26th day, yet the effects of the merr 

 cury did not disappear for upwards of a month. 



Many cases similar to the above have come under my care 

 within a few months ; and although it is well known that 

 very small doses of calomel will occasionally produce sali- 

 vation, this seldom takes place when it acts as a cathartic, 

 or when it is exhibited in combination with any other me- 

 dicine having that property and producing that effect. 



These facts would not have been noticed publicly, but 

 from their frequent recurrence, without any apparent pecu- 

 liarity of constitution, from the same combination of me- 

 dicine, which I have been in the habit of prescribing for 

 many years, as well in public as in private practice, and 

 have rarely witnessed effects similar to the above. 



John Taunton, 

 Surgeon to the City and F'uishury 

 Dispensaries, and Lecturer on 

 Anatomy and Surgery, &'c. 



Orcville-strect, Hatton-garden, 

 February M, 1807. 



Vol. 27. No. 105. Fel. iso;. V XIII. De- 



