CLASS I. 2. 2. 15. OF IRRITATION. 73 



and have thence generally perished themselves. But Dr. Den- 

 man has ingeniously introduced a new practice, which has saved, 

 in such cases, both the mother and child; which is by promoting 

 a premature delivery between the seventh and eighth months, 

 before the child has acquired its full growth, which has been at- 

 tended with success. See Denman's Midwifery, and Medical 

 Journal, Vol. III. No. 11. 



In one instance nature seems to have had a similar expedient, 

 and perhaps to overcome a similar difficulty, in the premature 

 birth of the progeny of the kangarroo; whose young are excluded 

 from the uterus in a very early state of their growth, and received 

 into an exterior bag; which is furnished with teats, to which 

 they long adhere by their mouths, till they are ready for a second 

 birth. 



15. Rachitis. Rickets. The head is large, protuberant, chiefly 

 on the forepart. The smaller joints are swelled; the ribs de- 

 pressed; the belly tumid, with other parts emaciated. This dis- 

 ease from the innutrition or softness of the bones arose about two 

 centuries ago; seems to have been half a century in an increas- 

 ing or spreading state; continued about half a century at its 

 height, or greatest diffusion; and is now nearly vanished: which 

 gives reason to hope, that the small-pox, measles, and venereal 

 disease, which are all of modern production, and have already 

 become milder, may in process of time vanish from the earth, 

 and perhaps be succeeded by new ones! See the preceding 

 Species. 



16. Spinm distortio. Distortion of the spine is another disease 

 originating from the innutrition or softness of the bones. I once 

 saw a child about six years old with palpitation of heart, and 

 quickness of respiration, which began to have a curvature of th 

 spine; I then doubted, whether the palpitation and quick respi- 

 ration were the cause or consequence of the curvature of the 

 spine; suspecting either that nature had bent the spine outwards 

 to give room to the enlarged heart; or that the malformation of 

 the chest had compressed and impeded the movements of the 

 heart. But a few weeks ago on attending a young lady about 

 ten years old, whose spine had lately begun to be distorted, with 

 very great difficulty and quickness of respiration, and alarming 

 palpitation of the heart, I convinced myself, that the palpitation 

 and difficult respiration were the effect of the change of the 

 cavity of the chest from the distortion of the spine; and that the 

 whole was therefore a disease of the innutrition or softness of the 

 bones. 



For on directing her to lie down much in the day, and to 

 take the bark, the distortion became less, and the palpitation and 

 VOL. n, t 



