264 ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, &C. 



Calomel. 



In a case of cholera morbus, in the East Indies, 

 130 grains of calomel were given to a patient in the 

 course of an hour, without the slightest effect. 



Opium. 



By the common estimate, twenty-five drops of 

 laudanum are equivalent to one grain of opium. A 

 small tea-spoon holds about 1 00 drops of laudanum. 



In one case of hydrophobia, 180 grains of opium 

 were administered without any benefit, and without 

 producing any sleep. 



Croton Oil. 



One drop of croton oil merely applied to the 

 tongue will produce purgative effects. There are 

 ninety species of croton plants, but only one that is 

 purgative. 



Average annual Sickness. 



The average annual sickness of an individual, as 

 calculated in 1824, from the records of seventy bene- 

 fit societies in Scotland, and comprising the experi- 

 ence of 7000 persons, was as follows: 



Sickness in weeks and 

 Age. decimals of a week. 



UnderSO 0-3797 



20 to 30 0-5916 



30 to 40 0-6865 



40 to 50 1-0274 



50 to 60 1-8806 



60 to 70 5-6337 



Above 70 16-5417 



The total average sickness experienced by a per- 

 son who attains the age of seventy, during fifty years, 

 from 20 to 70, is about ninety-eight weeks. 



