Eleventh Communication from Dr. Thornton. 295. 
his leg to Mr. Cruikfhank, which ftill poffeffes the marks of 
numerous ulcers, feeing varic fe veins, this experienced fur- 
geon faid: ‘* Tell Dr. Thoruton that he is miftaken if he 
fuppofes he has made a permanent cure; for varicofe ulcers 
were never cured without an operation, which, ifthe wifhes, ’ 
[ will perform.” The man, frightened at firft, and then afto- 
nifhed, replied: ‘ Sir, I have been cured perfeétly now thefe 
three years.’—-“ That alters the cafe,’’ anfwers this diftin- 
guifhed anatomilt; then tell Dr. Thorn‘o.1 that he has per- 
formed a mofi wonderful cure.”’—Patterfon ft']l continues well ; 
nor does there feem the fmalleft caufe to fufpeét a relapfe. 
The cure of Mr. Wilkinfon*, who had a fore leg 
twelve years, is not lefs extraordinary. In this cafe I ob- 
ferved a peculiar phenomenon, alone explicable by the ope- 
ration of the oxygen air. The fingers of both hands at their 
ends looked very red, as red as raw meat, were {wollen, and’ 
felt very painful. The fame was mentioned to me in private 
converfation by Dr. Beddoes in a patient of his, who, finding 
an afthma relieved by a fmafl dofe of vital air, took as much 
as he could at one time, produced a fever, and this fame phe- 
nomenon I haye juft mentioned above. 
This legds me to repeat an obfervation [ have before often 
_expreffed, that oxygen air promifes to be an ufeful remedy 
in fore legs; for why have we not fore arms? The nearnefs 
of this part to the heart feems to be the only philofophic 
reafon; and therefore a direct powerful ftimulus to the heart, 
as oxygen air, promifes the moft certain good, aided by the 
invigorating effects of bark, fteel, and other tonic medicines ; 
not but that I would advife, where itcan be properly done, as 
in hofpitals, trials to be made with the vital air without me- 
dicine, to prevent all cavil;, although it is undoubtedly un- 
_ jmportant to the fufferer by what means he is treated, fo that 
he is but cured; and, until the contrary is proved, I fhall 
_ ever think, that medicines, judicioutly employed, certainly 
" gannot impede the operation of oxygen, but may aff. 
_. I now take my leave of the philofophic world, not from 
' dearth of materials, for I have cures by me yet more im- 
* The cafes of Mr. Munt, the Rev, Mr. Atwood, Patterfon, and Mr. 
penton, are related in Dr. Beddoes’s Copfiderations on Faétitious Airs, 
portant 
