2S6 Account I of Booh. 



is formed in the ftomach, and depends chiefly upon feme vitiated, but increafed a£Hon of 

 this organ. We. was led to take this view of the difeafe from reflefling on the ftate of the 

 ftomach and habits of life which preceded, the voracious appetite which always accom- 

 panies it, and the ftate of the blood, the ferum of M-hich, although not fcnfibly fweet, had 

 not the ufual faltifh taftc. 



The Doclor fuppofes, that in this complaint the vegetable matter taken into the ftomach 

 has not, from fome defe£l in this organ, undergone a fufticient change to form proper 

 chyle ; that in confequence of this much faccharine matter is evolved, which, when carried 

 into the circulation, proves a general (limulus, producing head-aches, and quickncfs of pulfe, 

 but that it aits more remarkably on the kidneys, occafioning a conftant and copious fecrc- 

 tion of fweet urine. From this hypothefis, he was naturally led to adopt a plan of cure, 

 which has proved completely fucccfsful. The indications he lays down are : i. To prevent 

 the formation of faccharine matter in the ftomach;. and, 2. To remove the morbidly in- 

 creafed action of this organ, and rcftore it to a healthfut condition. Thefe indications 

 are to be anfwered by a complete diet of animal food, and by the ufc of fuch medicines as 

 fliall diminilh the action of the llomach, and at the fame time eounteraft the formation of 

 faccharine matter. The remedies employed for this purpofe have been emetics, kali ful- 

 phuratura, lime-water, hepatized ammonia, and vegetable narcotics. But the principal* 

 dependence is to be placed on a total abftinence from all vegetable matter, which alone 

 can fupply the faccharine principle. By a regular perfeverance in this plan, the firft 

 patient was completely cured in four weeks, although the difeafe had been of fcvcn months 

 continuance. The urlne,^ which at the commencement of the treatment was fweet, and 

 amounted to 24 pints daily, was at laft reduced to I3 pint, being at the fame time free 

 from any faccharine impregnation. 



The fecond patient, from his age and other circumftances, although relieved from the 

 diabetic afFe£lion, did not regain his wonted ftate of health; but even in this cafe, the 

 cffetls produced by the treatment, when properly attended to, were moft decidedly in con- 

 firmation of this plan of cure. 



The Doftor has received feveral communications in confequence of the difperfion of 

 the printed notes on the firft cafe. The moft important are the refult of two cafes 

 treated in this way by Dr. Cleghorn of Glafgow, and one by Drs. Currie and Gerard at 

 Liverpool ; all of which afford the ftrongeft corroboration of the efficacy of this mode of 

 treatment. 



To this account of the diabetes are added fome experiments on fugar, and the effecfls of 

 different acids in the lues venerea. The cafes of lues venerea treated in this way, and 

 detailed at fome length, are : 17 by Mr. Cruickfliank, 2 by Dr. Irwin, 5 by Dr. Jamefon, 

 and 8 by Dr. Wittman — making in all 32. Of thefe 19 were cuied by the nitrous acid, 

 4 by the oxygenated muriatic acid, 3 by lemon-juice, or ihe citric acid, and 6 by the oxy- 

 genated muriate of pot-afli. The afTeiflions in all thefe were of the primary kind, being 

 chancres and buboes, but diftindly marked. The effciSs produced by the different reme- 

 dies were nearly the fame, and fuch as feemcd to indicate a general increafed aflion of the 

 fyftem. There was an increafe of appetite, more thirft than ufual, a wliite tongue, an 

 augmentation in the quantity of urine, and the blood when drawn was generally fizy : 

 Botliing, however, like falivation was obferved. 



The 



