Tenth Comnmnicat'ton from D\ Thornton. 177 



barrels, and bottled ofl' as wanted, like w ine ; the shrine 

 of Diana is not in danger, as other remedies may and 

 should be exhibited at the same time : it does not interfere 

 Avith them ; but, on the contrary, gives them power, 

 whereas without it they have no basis to act on* : in the 

 exhibition of the pneumatic remedy there is neither danger 

 if used with precaution, nor disgrace in trial ; the harvest of 

 discovery is wide, the only want is harvest-men. 



I shall conclude with the following energetic appeal by 

 Dr. Fourcroy t to the faculty at Paris on this subject: 



" It cannot any longer," says that eminent chemist 

 and philosopher, " be permitted to the physician tQ remain 

 an inactive spectator of the power of gaseous bodies on the 

 animal oeconomy. No professional man, if he is at all in- 

 terested in the advancement of his studies, if he is at all 

 animated w ith a proper zeal for the progress of medicine, 

 can any longer neglect to instruct himself in the conclusions 

 of modern discoveries J. The cold statue-like insensibility 

 of some, the affected indifference of others, the sneer ut- 

 tered by this man, the irritated self-love of the other, the 

 attachment of mankind for the doctrines of their fathers, 

 the hatred of novelty, prejudices of every kind, all the 

 mean passions which glide into society, playing their part 

 on tiic theatre of civilized life, are to be found also in the 

 career of science: the excesses which these iaave produced; 

 the pleasantries which they give rise to; the sarcasms, or 

 epigrams, with which they arm discourse; the ridicule which 

 some have endeavoured to throw on the inventors; the epi- 

 thet of innovators, of which they are prodigal ; all this may 



* The philosophy of the balmicf oi principles (Hvdrogkn" and 

 Oxvgvn) in the body is a wonderful consideration for the contempla- 

 tion of the man of science and the physician. As fire burn- not bo much 

 fiom the fuel poured on, as from ihe air without, so has this external 

 principle a greater effect on us than most people are aware of. The 

 oxygen air, or vital air, acts as a bellows to the frame. The fire, which 

 was once bad, being kindled up by the bellows, maintains afterwards its 

 owii blaze ; so tiie vis vita', energy of life, being roused by the inhala- 

 rir,n of viral riir, afterwards keeps up its own natural inherent vigour. •- 

 lliis comparison is made for such who will not receive f.icts as they are 

 recorded, and will allow no virtue in vnal air, as not being inluilcd all 

 day iong. What would we say of the practitioner who was ordering 

 bark eery five minutes, or wine ? 



t This fine appeal is at the commencement of an essay which this di- 

 stinguished chemist and physician read in the School of Medicine at Paris, 

 on the medical \ irtucs of oxygen ; and the whole essay is given in the 

 jSiIi volume <>f the Annals of Cliemistiy, 



1 A physician of considerable practice and estimation w;)s lately ."on- 

 Julted about the oxygen air; when he asburcd the patient that it did not 

 at all apply to his case, as he was alitady too much lilled with air {Jiu- 

 litlfni) ! ! 



Vol. XVH. No. 66. M retard 



