309 On Pneumatic Medicine. 



solving it In muriatic acid. Might the latter not be one of 

 these metals, changed in its nature, as it were, like uranium, 

 titanum, and cerium? M. Gahn sent me mixtures of ce- 

 rium and of iron, partly metallic and partly forming a gray- 

 ish powder. 



The production of muriatic acid and of soda, by means 

 of the Galvanic pile, in perfectly pure water, has not suc- 

 ceeded among us, although our piles are proper enough iu 

 point of the size of the metallic plates, and the number of 

 the pairs. Pure water is a very bad conductor ; the pile can 

 hardly be made to act with it ; but if there is the least par- 

 ticle of any salt, the decomposition is more rapid, and the 

 salt is decomposed ; the positive wire seizing the acid, and 

 the negative the alkaline, base. It seems probable to me 

 that the gentlemen who thus compose the muriatic acid are 

 led into an error by the decomposition of muriate of soda, 

 contained in their water, perhaps badly distilled. 



XLIV. Tliirty-Jifth Communication from Dr. Thornton, 



relative to Puejunatic Medicine. 



Cure of Typhus Fever by Yeast. 



■J DEAR SIR, 



In sending you the detail of the case of my sister, whose 

 extraordinary recovery from the last stage of a violent typhus 

 fever reflects the highest honour on your skill and decision, 

 I am induced particularly to call your attention to the in- 

 stantaneous salutary eflects which arose from the exhibition 

 of yeast. The use of yeast in medicine has not, I believe, 

 till very lately been admitted into practice in this country ; 

 it is still by many looked upon as of dubious utility, and 

 by some is considered as wholly useless, or partially noxious. 

 It is not only from this case, but from several others that I 

 have witnessed, that I am convinced of its highly beneficial 

 effects ; and I have seen it successfully used in several places 

 in my native country, Holland. It was, as near as I can re- 

 collect, in the year 1799, that I first knew it exhibited. 



This 



