208 Fourteenth Communication from Dr. Thornton. 



month was affected with a stomach complaint, as indiges- 

 tion, flatulence, heartburn, a loathing of animal food, dis- 

 turbed sleep, great emaciation, a dry cough, and frequent 

 excruciating spasms, with frequent hysteric atfections in the 

 throat : her debility was great, and her breaihing extremely 

 short upon using tlie least exertion. Having taken a great 

 deal of medicine to no manner of permanent good, she re- 

 solved to try the vital air ; and this was as far back as the 

 year 1793, and v.ith the approbation of her apothecary 

 Mr. Bateson, of Gun Dock, a very old practitioner, whose 

 name accordingly deserves to be remembered here. The 

 same plan of medicine was pursued as before : a gallon of 

 vital air, mixed with three gallons of atmospheric, inhaled, 

 and in six weeks this lady was restored to the blessing of 

 health. Being called, a few days ago, into consultation by 

 Dr. Hamihon, respecting this lady's niece. No. 3, Brixton, 

 J was pleased to find Mrs. Gillespie looking extremely well, 

 and she felt more anxious than I might be to have her case 

 generally known to the world. 



Observations on this Case hj Dr. Tharnion. 



I. The connection of the oxygenated blood on the sto- 

 mach is fomid from the greater degree of appetite experi- 

 enced by those in the country than when in a confined 

 place, and from the effect of inhaling tlie superoxygenated 

 air as increasing the appetite in this and other patients. 



II. That the spasms should cease is not to be wondered 

 at, as undigested food in the stomach not only makes un- 

 concocted or ill-formed blood, but acts as a local stimulus, 

 fermenls, and occasions the extrication of fixed and inflam- 

 mable airs, and, distending lively parts excessively, throws 

 them into inordinate action ; — but once get the stomach 

 right, the main spring of the animated machine_, and all 

 then goes on well. , 



III. This lady at first was so weak, that with difficulty 

 she cculd get out of the coach up stairs, and the artificial 

 mode of drawing into the lungs the superoxygenated air was 

 accomplished with extreme difirculty. 



IV. Warmth, spirits, appetite, gradually increased ; de- 

 bility, so productive of spasm in the language of the old 

 school, soon disappeared : and this case, with others, tends 

 to prove, " that the combined powers ofntedicine and air viai/ 

 produce a good, when either, perhaps, would Jail singly." 



Mr. Roberts, oilman, No. 5, Blandford-street, whom I 

 saw to-day, niakes the following report relative to the vital 



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