On Pneumatic Medicine, 361 



no manner of purpose." Mr. L immediately set out 



tor London, and requested I would fit up an apparatus for 

 Mrs. L — ' — , to try the effects of the dephlogisticated air, 

 as it was then called. I immediately accompanied him to 

 the country. Here [ ought to blush, and apologize to the 

 faculty, for having dared to employ a tieiu medicine with- 

 out possessing any pathological knowledge ; but the case 

 was desperate. An agonizing husband, determined to try 

 every expedient to save a beloved wife, could not fail to 

 rouse the utmost efforts of humanity ; and the vital air ap- 

 peared to me not unlikely to produce relief, (if not a cure,) 

 as I had often myself breathed it mixed with common air, 

 and found it very reviving. I therefore put a table-spoon- 

 ful of minium (red lead) mto a saucer, and poured upon it 

 as much vitriolic acid as would moisten it, and placed it 

 about a yard distant from the patient, that as the gas rose 

 it mifrht be much diluted with the common air, so as not 

 to irrttate the lungs. Finding no ill effects to arise, I re- 

 peated the same dose for a quarter of an hour on that day, 

 but placed nearer the nostrils, and she found herself better. 

 So encouraged, I pursued this practice for several days, till 

 I jndged that she might draw the gas from a vessel con- 

 trived for this purpose, and still less mixed with common 

 air. Her cough was in consequence considerably abated, 

 her breathing became very easy, she felt herself after each 

 inhalation revived, and was evidently so much mended that I 

 took my leave of the lady, after having put the family into 

 the way of continuing on the process. This practice I un- 

 derstand was persisted in for some time, till Mrs. L wa3 



established in her health. I then lost sight of the family 

 for several years, (Mr. and Mrs. L— — having gone 

 abroad *,) when I was at last agreeably surprised by a call 

 from Mr. L , who said, " he was returned to Eng- 

 land, and was come to thank me for a wife and two chil- 

 dren." Only three years ago this lady with her husband 

 attended my lectures, and had continued since in perfect 

 health. I liave the honour to remain, dear Sir, 



With much respect and esteem, yours, &c. 



A. Walker. 



Observations on this Case ly Dr. Thornton. 



1. As the attending physician is dead, I am unable ex- 

 actly to ascertain all the symptt/^ms of the disorder here 



■■ Upon putting the question, neither of the Mr. Walkers have any 

 idea tliat iliii cx^itdition was undertaken for the yuiposc'; ot health. 



mclitionisd j 



