S6 jiJdllwnal Observulions on ihc Use of 



of warm water, were employed witliout delay. And I had aho re- 

 course to the use of calomel, in the manner recommended for the 

 cure of croup, hy mv late worthy friend Dr. James Anderson, 

 surgeon in Edinburgh. Under these practices his disease soon 

 subsided ; and in the space of even a few hours, my great alarm 

 was at an end. My opinion was, that an inflammation at the 

 head of the wind-pipe, which produced the eroupy- cough, as it 

 is called, had been cut short by the active measures employed, 

 and that his disease might be said to be an example not of the 

 Cynanche Traclieaiis, but of the Cynanche Laryvgea. In the 

 case of my son, who died of the croup about fifteen years ago, 

 the inflammation and consequent inflammatory exudation, was 

 not in the larynx, but entirely in the trachea : and indubitable 

 evidence was afforded, that the affection extended not only to 

 the wnder part of the trachea, but even to its large branches, the 

 bronchiae distributed through the lungs. 



While the present case had a happy termination under the 

 practices which I have already mentioned, it, at the same time, 

 afforded me strong evidence of the benefit which may be derived 

 from the Lactucarium lozenges, as a means of allaying a very 

 troublesome and alarming cough. For after the most severe 

 symptoms were removed, particularly the permanent dyspncea, 

 and peculiar sound in respiration, he still continued to be af- 

 fected with frequent croupy-cough. For combating this, I had 

 recourse to the Tiochisci Glycyrrkizce cuvi Lactucario. He was 

 directed to keep one of these constantly melting in his mouth; 

 and from the time that this practice was begun, the frequency 

 of his cough was very much diminished, and it soon entirely left 

 him. Thus, in the space of about twelve hours from the attack, 

 I considered him as completely free from the disease. 



1 have no doubt, that if, in place of the Lachicarium lozenges, 

 I had directed the ordinary opium lozenges of the Edinburgh 

 Pharmacopceia, the same alleviation of cough would have been 

 obtained ; and I must candidly confess, that I have by no means 

 the same prejudice with some of my brethren against the use of 

 opium in inflammatory affections. I hold opium to Ije the most 

 valuable medicine that has yet been discovered; and, in the words 

 of the illustrious Sydenham, we may justly say, " sine eo, manca 

 3it et quasi claudicet medicina." In affections decidedly of the 

 inflammatory kind, as for example, in acute rheumatism, I am 

 in the daily habit of employing it after blood-letting, not only 

 without any bad effect, but with manifest benefit. Jf it r-eally 

 do possess what can be called a stimulant power, this is much 

 more than counteracted by its sedative effects. And that it is 

 the most pov.erful sedative we yet possev-*, is demonstrated be- 

 yond all contradiction, by itb influence in allaying pain and in- 

 ducing 



