SUGAR. 251 



where sugar composes a material part of the 

 diet of the inhabitants. Dr. Rush thinks it 

 probable, that the frequency of malignant 

 fevers of all kinds has been lessened by this 

 diet, and that its more general use would 

 defend that class of people who are most 

 subject to malignant fevers from being so 

 often affected by them. 



In the numerous and frequent disorders 

 of the breast, which occur in all countries 

 where the body is exposed to a variable tem- 

 perature of the weather, sugar affords the 

 basis of many agreeable remedies. It is 

 useful in weaknesses, and acrid defluxions 

 upon other parts of the body. Many facts 

 might be adduced in favour of this assertion. 

 Dr. Rush mentions only one, which from the 

 venerable name of the person whose case 

 furnished it, cannot fail of commanding at- 

 tention and credit. "Upon my inquiry of 

 Dr. Franklin, at the request of a friend," 

 (says our respectable author) about a year 

 before he died, " whether he had found any 

 relief from the pain of the stone from the 

 blackberry jam, of which he took large quan- 

 tities, he told me he had, but that he be- 

 lieved the medicinal part of the jam resided 

 wholly in the sugar; and, as a reason for 



