248 Facts relative to Cynanche Trachealis* 



represented, they had formed not the most remote idea. 

 On representing to them that the complaint had hitherto 

 resisted all our efforts, and that, probably, a score and 

 a half of children had already fallen victims to it, in this 

 place, their distress arose to a height which it would 

 be difficult to describe. I then stated that I had re- 

 cently formed a resolution to try the effects of blood- 

 letting, carried to an extent that would doubtless appear 

 to them awful ; but that it was an experiment on which 

 was founded my only remaining hope of subduing the 

 inveteracy of the disease. Aided by the assurances and 

 explanations of an intelligent French gentleman, and 

 having brought the wretched parents to a state border- 

 ing on utter despair, I obtained their unqualified con- 

 sent to manage the case in the manner I thought most 

 advisable. 



The subject was about live years old, and of an inte- 

 resting and healthful appearance. I caused it to be 

 held erect in the arms of an attendant, and made a free 

 opening of a vein in the arm. The quantity of blood 

 found necessary to produce the intended effect consi- 

 derably exceeded that which I had anticipated, and this 

 circumstance added not a little to the distress and ap- 

 prehensions of the parents. Their pitiable countenan- 

 ces and impressive attitudes denoted a fear that the 

 experiment was only calculated to hasten the fatal ca- 

 tastrophe. The face became pale and the pulse feeble, 

 yet the difficulty of breathing remained unaltered. In a 

 short time after this, how ever, the head fell upon one of 

 the shoulders, the pulse was imperceptible, and the 

 stridulous breathing was no longer to be heard. I will 



