fiSS On the remarkuLle E;fflcacy of Carrots. 



trid -MuX ofTensive, as to contaminate, as was supposed, the 

 ward: several ot the patients soon after, havina; sores, 

 some even ot" a triflingdebcripiion, which quickly assumed 

 the putrid, scorbutic disposition above described, and se- 

 veral others in succession. 



This affair became so serious, that it was thought ad- 

 visable to have a consultation ot" the faculty, which accord- 

 ingly took place. 



The result of this was, all medical and chirurgical skill 

 havino- been exhausted to no purpose, that all the wards 



should be fresh white-v.-ashed, and fumigated; -Jjut still 



the evil continued with unabating fury. 



At tliis jucture, having observed the efl'ects of the carrot 

 poultice used then raw, to exceed, in some degree, the rest 

 of the various remedies employed, consisting, among others, 

 of the fermenting poultice, so highly esteemed in cases of 

 this nature ; 1 proposed usine; a poultice made of the carrots 

 boiled, hoping their efficacy might be increased thereby, 

 attending particularly to the process and application myself j 

 the result of which was, as before stated. 



The good effects indeed of this trealm'ent were so decided, 

 that, although of sixteen casts which occurred in the course 

 of the year 1/94, ten terminated fatally, notwithstanding 

 the most skilful application cf the means then in use; there 

 was not one, out of at least the same number of cases, 

 equally dangerous, 'which presented themselves the year 

 after, but what ended wcllunder this new method. . 



Since that time this mode alone of applying the carrot 

 poultice has been in use in the Kadclifl'e Inlirmary, not 

 only for the scoibutic or putrid kind of ulcer whenever it 

 occurred, but for all untoward or foul sores of every de- 

 scription. 



That the efficacy of the carrot poultice thus modified, 

 is not generally known, even at this tinie_, I can assert 

 with some degree of confidence, having been repeatedly 

 assured by a professional gentleman, that the carrot 

 poultice, prepared in ll;e old way, is still in general use, 

 and without attributing any efficacy toil, beyond that which 

 was originally allowed to that remedy. It- has, however^ 

 lately found its way into some publications, but in a very 

 vao-ue and inueterrninate manner. 



Oxford, Oct. 1, J 806. 



*^* The above account of the efficacy of carrots brings 

 to the editor's recollection a similar instance of cure per- 

 i'ormed by turnips, as conmiunicaied by a friend. The 



fbllowinj!: 



