j^^o Eighth Conurnuticailon from Dr. Thortiton. 



wavs remarkably cold. The paralyfis feemed chiefly featecl 

 in the mufcle of the tluimb. I advifed him the trial of 

 elcftricity ; and we obferved, as well as thofe who accompa- 

 nied him, that the eleftric fpark did not fly with a cj-ackling 

 tioife to the pKiralytic mvifcles. Trying a piece of dead meat 

 we found the fame phenomenon. We then had recourfe to 

 inhalation of vital air mixed with atmofphcric, and he in- 

 haled from fix to eight quarts vital air. The mufcle, now 

 receiving oxygenated blood, afterwards caught the ele6trie 

 fpark very readily, and a genial warmth was difiufed 

 throughout the paralytic hand. This was not a folitary ob- 

 fervation, but conftant ; and it feems to me very forcibly to 

 prove the animating principle derived from the oxygen of 

 the air to the mufcular fibre ; a principle not, as rcprcfented 

 by Mayow, the moil fubtle, fpiritual, and aetherial, but one 

 that can be made obvious to our fenfes in the form of air, 

 adhering to the calces of metals, and capable now of being 

 conceived even by the moft grofs underftandings. 



The patient, I am happy to adcl, by this combination df ex- 

 ternal and internal flimulants, was completely reftored, and 

 has continued many months perfectly well. 



As the cafe is fliort, I will fay a few words on the combi- 

 nation of remedies. ThcFacult}', and others, are always cry- 

 ing out for the trials of the airs alone, and forget that in their 

 own pra6lice they employ a variety of naeans. Thus, al- 

 ihough excrcifc is recommended, is the flomach ncglc£tcd 

 to be braced and ftimulated ? ,^, ^ 



"The follovving cafe from John Hunter* is very illuflrative 

 ■of this pofition : _ 



" A lady, of v^'hat is called a nervcffs confillution, arlfing 

 in fome degree from an irritable ftoniach, often troubled with 

 flatulencies, and what are called nervous head-achs, with 

 pale urine ?t thofc times, uncomfortable feelings and often 

 finkings, had a tumor removed from the bread, and likcwife 

 nc£.r the arm-pit : nothing appeared u-ncommon for a lew 



• WiAf\ Hunia oil ihc Blood, \<. i^iz, 



9 days. 



