"t^ew PuhlicahonSt nyi 



Hence, that its powers were imaginary, or at btfi; uncertain^ 

 Inaccuracy of obfervation and experiment, with the influence 

 of perfoiial partialities and preconceived opinions, were na- 

 turally fuppofed to be the chief caufes of thefe contrarieties 

 of report. Mr, Blair, Surgeon to the Lock Hofpital and Afy- 

 ]um, therefore, undertook to colleft fuch a fyllem of evidence 

 concerning the aftion of nitric and nitrous acid in lues vene- 

 rea, as fliould, if poflible, finally afcertain the true praftical 

 principle in regard to its ufe. The refuit of his firft inquiries 

 was made public in a former pa7-t of the prefent work. In 

 the y^^roT?^ par/ the ingenious author prefents a multiplicity 

 of new teftimonies ; analyfes and examines the faQ.s pub- 

 liflied on the fame fubjeft by others ; and endeavours to de- 

 duce thofe general truths, to eftablifli which, he conceives 

 that all his affembled teftimonies combine their force. His 

 inquiry has been condufted, and his laft inferences are de- 

 duced, with the candour of a gentleman and the cautious 

 difcrimination of a philofopher. "That the acids of nitre, 

 &c. though very ufeful auxiliaries to mercury in the cure of 

 the ^•encreal difeafe, are, in no modificatiou of that com- 

 plaint, to be confidently and exclufively fubftituted inftead 

 of mercury," is the general praftical pofition with which 

 Mr, Blair clofes his whole inveftigation. 



This opinion is, perhaps, the (afeCt to be at prefent a&cd 

 upon in medical praftice. ' It feems to be allowed on all 

 hands, however, that nitric acid, taken together with mer- 

 cury, counteraiSls its deljilitating effe6ts without diminiftiing 

 its remedial energy. 



Of the ratio of the operation of either mercury or nitric 

 acid, as an anti-venereal remedy, no very particular account 

 has ever yet been given. It has indeed been conceived, 

 that, fince oxygen is the bafis of vital air, it muft be, in all 

 its various modifications, of fovereign efficacy for the cure of 

 difeafe and the nourifliment of life-; that nitric acid is a re- 

 medy againft lues "jcnerca, on account of the oxygen which 

 it contains ; and that other oxygenous compounds may pro- 

 bably aft with fimilar cfFefts. All beyond this is fiiti left in 

 myftery. But, is not the venereal virus one of thofe innu- 

 merable and fiibtle chemical compounds as yet inimitable by 



iiunian 



