202 Caf.! cj Raikitis UeaUd vj'ith "Cukarfo:,.' Fiij'phatt. 



laiprudent exhibition of a purge at the beginning of one of thefc crifcs had nearly 

 deprived tlie patient of her life. In this (late it was that I bchtU! her for the firll time in 

 the month of January I79I- The alkaline lotion was tl>e only remedy the mother adopted 

 in the firfl inflance, and it produced a remarkable ctTect. -After eight days the infant was 

 fo much better as to be able to fupport herfelf. The remedy was then laid afide, and 

 eight days afterwards the child v.a:; iiicapablc of ftanding without fupport. The ufe of the 

 •.dkaline folutioa being renewed, w.is atli ndcd with v'le fame fuccefs, and its (lifcontinuance 

 was again followed by the complete return of all the fymptoais. In the firlt days of 

 March, the other remedies I had advifed were exiiibitej. The conflipation which had 

 always ex ifted became lefs, and the following crifis was efTeclcd without pain. And at 

 length the convuUions, the pains, and the crifes difappcavcd ; but the impofiibility of walk- 

 ia" lUll repiained. At this time, namely on the fccond of M.iy, 1 gave the child the phof- 

 phate of foda and calcareous phofphate mixed together, in the dofe of half a dram twice 

 a-day. At the end of the month flie was able to fland upright, leaning agalnft a chair, 

 and the fwellings began to diminiOi. She continued for a long time afterwards to lake the 

 mixture of the phofphatcs. I likewife gave her oceafionally one grain of the extra£l of 

 bile, prepared with fpirit of wine •, and at length in the month of July I had the pleafure to 

 fee the patient run and play in the middle of the (Ireet with tlic other children of her own 

 age, &c. 



<• J. B. Magnc, aged two years and a half, appeared (Irong and well formed. A ge- 

 neral rachitis manifefled itfelf rapidly in his cortllitution, without apparent canfe. He 

 foon became incapable of walking, and his relations learned from his playfellows that he 

 had frequently evacuated white and thick urine. Moll of the remedies and methods pro- 

 pofed by different authors were made ufe of. At length difeouraged at fo many ufelefs 

 trbls, the parents gave up e%'ery remedy, and the child remained incapable of walking. 

 The bones of the legs were foftened and bent. At the age of four years and a half young 

 Magne had the fmall-pox ; the diforder was acute, but terminateii happily without any 

 particular attention. When the defquamation was complete, the child was no longer 

 capable of fupporting himfelf. At this period he was brought hither, and I was confulted. 

 I obferved that part of the bones were fo much foftened as to occafion variations and even 

 violent pain in his walk. I advifed a purgative, with alkaline lotions and the ufe of cal- 

 careous phofphate, and a proper regimen. Eight days afterwards, the whole furface of the 

 (kin was covered with an infinity of fmall blifters, refembling the itch. My prefcriptions 

 were regularly continued, and in one month the folidity of the bones was entirely fecured. 

 For more than a year he has experienced no relapfe. In this cafe we may remark the in- 

 utility of the ufual remedies, the advantage of cutaneous eruptions, and the efficacy of the 

 treatment I propofe." 



The incurvated fpine, (though apparently confined to the vertebra?, which bones are 

 not only affe£led with preternatural enlargement, but frequently alfo with caries) is this dif- 

 order, I fay, to be regarded as analogous to rachitis, or at leaft to accidental rachitis ? 

 Both have been produced by the repetcuffion of cutaneous eruptions. Citizen Bon- 

 homme relates obfervations in which the two affeflions are fo combined that they ap- 

 pear to form one finglc diforder, varied only according to the parts affeiSled. Is the ufe of 

 calcareous phofphate applicable to tlie treatment of the vertebral difeafe, to complete and 



accelerate 



