IGS Utility of the (Xii/genated Muriatic Acid 



of the artciial sji^stem, warming the extremities, increasing 

 insensible perspiration, exhilarating the spirits, and, invi- 

 gorating the vital principle without exh<iusting it, would 

 prove an efficacious remedy in this but too fatal disease. 

 This I have experienced in the oxvgenated muriatic acid, 

 \\ hose known property of destroying putrid miasms, and 

 preventing infection, m a gaseous state, has totally abo- 

 lished the absurd farragos of antient practice. 



N'ariolous and vaccme virus, exposed but for a moment 

 to the vapour of oxygenated muriatic acid, lose their con- 

 tagious properties ; and the latter, rubbed with one-eighth 

 ot a grain of oxide of iron [n/b/go fcrri), will rarely com- 

 municate the disease : what then may we not expect from 

 ihis activ^e and elegant preparation ! elegant I may justly 

 cuticle it, as, when properi'S' prepared and sufficiently diluted, 

 it mav be administered to patients of all ages, being a safe 

 and efficacious remedy, possessed of a slight degree of grate- 

 ful acidilV. 



When called to a patient, in whatever stage of the scarlet 

 fever, my practice for two years last jjast has uniformly 

 been as' follov.s ; — One dram of oxygenated muriatic acid is 

 mixed with eight ounces of distilled water in a vial, and 

 shaken together : this quantity should be taken every twelve 

 hours by a patient from fourteen to twenty years of age ; 

 but it is preferable to administer it in draughts divided from 

 the quantity above mentioned into jij, giss, jj, and Bss 

 bottles, as the patient's age and situation require, ordering 

 them to be taken at such periods as for an adult to consume 

 the quantity in the time mentioned, and to younger pa- 

 tients smaller do';cs, as half a dram or two scruples of the, 

 acid to eight ounces of water. By this method the oxygen- 

 gas is not sepa,ratcd and lost each time the vial is opened, as 

 mav easily be perceived by its smell in the apartment. Tt is 

 also absolutely necessary the medicine be placed in a dark 

 situation, wrapped in paper, ;o prevent the disoxygenating 

 influence of light. 



Since the-use of this medicine I have never had recom'se 

 to emetics, purgatives, bli'<tcrs, or diaphoretics ; a regular 

 perseverance in the ox)'genant remedv has universally suc- 

 ceeded, mv patients rapid! v recovering, and being; seldom 

 afii+cted wiih those complaints succeeding the scarlet fever, 

 such as pain of the joints, poucity of urine, and universal 

 anasarcous swellings. Even should these follow, I recom- 

 mend a continuance of the medicine until these svmptoms 

 entirelv di'-appf-ar, which will be found much earlier than 

 by the usual njode of treatnaent. Indeed, if the oxygenated 



preparation 



