SANITARY SUGGESTIONS. 95 



157. Desideratum. A Treatise on the Cure of 

 Incipient Diseases. Is it so, that what palliates a 

 disease in its advanced stage, will cure it in its 

 incipient state ? And is it so that there are numer- 

 ous specifics for diseases in their incipient state, but 

 few specifics, if any, for diseases in their advanced 

 stage ? * 



158. It is well known that gases and vapours 

 possess the power of miscibility with each other so 

 remarkably, that when brought together they 

 speedily constitute themselves into one homogeneous 

 mass. It is therefore evident, that extraneous gases 

 or vapours, when they enter the atmosphere, must 

 be rapidly diffused over the districts from which 

 they emanate. Now if atmospheric diseases arise, 

 as is supposed, from a mephitic gas or vapour exist- 

 ing in the atmosphere, how comes it that an atmo- 

 sphere so impregnated with morbid matter does not 



* I have found that the first touch of sore throat, and the first 

 tendency to cough, may be suppressed simply by the use of an 

 emollient, but that they will not be suppressed by such a simple 

 remedy if allowed to go on for several days, or even hours ; and also 

 that the first touch of tooth-ache may be checked by having re- 

 course to any one of those numerous specifics which are adver- 

 tised as a cure for tooth-ache in its advanced stage ; also I find 

 that rheumatism and sciatica upon their first symptom, may be 

 suppressed by the immediate application of a liniment, but 

 which will fail as a remedy if allowed to go on for several hours. 



