[ 201 ] 



XVI. Sevejiih Communkalion^ from Dr. Thornton, P^- 

 Jician to the Ge?ieral Dijpenfary, &c. &c. relative to Pneu- 

 matic Medicine, 



A REMARKABLE CASE OF PUTRID FEVER CURED BIT 

 THE INHALATION OF VITAL AIR. 



XJLFTER attending a family labouring under putrid fever, 

 I was feized myfelf with the fame fever, but it was pre- 

 vented forming by an emetic and caloinel cathartic. It 

 affailed next my wife, who being advanced in pregnancy, 

 the fame remedies could not be applied, and the fever ac- 

 tually formed itfelf. The fymptoms became fo alarming, 

 that muftard cataplafms were applied to the feet ; and there 

 arifing, towards the clofe of the difeafe, violent ftartings of 

 the tendons, and a cold clammy fweat, with a fluttermg and 

 funk pulfe, I was iiiduccd to make trial of the oxygen air 

 nearly in a pure ftate, and Mrs. Thornton was immediately 

 revived by this remedy, and, after a fever which lafted one 

 and twenty days, recovered. A fervant in the houfe, and a 

 nurfe, were next feized ; and I had the maid taken out of 

 bed, and made her Inhale thirty quarts of vital air, mixed 

 with twice that quantity of atmofpheric ; which being re- 

 peated for a few days, fhe was completely reftored. The 

 nurfe had an emetic, and went home. My two children 

 were afterwards feized with the fame fever ; and being de- 

 clared by the gentleman who attended them paft all hopes, 

 I ordered a carriage to be procured, and took them imme- 

 diately to the top of Highgate Hill, where they were com- 

 pofed to deep by the keen country air, and came home 

 greatly revived ; which excurfion being repeated daily, they 

 bfjth recovered, to the furprifc of every one. Seeing the good 

 effects of air, and of faAitious oxygen air, I adopted both 

 in tiie fulleft manner in the inftaxice about to be recorded, 

 the rcfiilt of which the reader will fee from the following: 



'' Thcfe are all or/[j-;«a/ Communications, ucvcr having been before 

 liubliilK-d. EunoK. 



letter 



