310 Medichie. 



the rules which ought to regulate It, and the de* 

 gree and permanency of relief which it is capable 

 of affording, have been so imperfectly investigated, 

 that it is difficult to speak with precision or cer- 

 tainty on the subject. 



The introduction of Factitious Airs into the 

 materia medica may be considered as marking 

 a splendid and very interesting period in its history. 

 Some facts on this subject were stated in a pre- 

 ceding section, to which it will only be added, 

 that though our knowledge of this important class 

 of remedies is yet in its infancy, there are probably 

 few sources from which more important aid to the 

 physician may be expected to be hereafter derived. 



The affusion of Water, cold and warm, on the 

 body, in fevers and other diseases, deserves to be 

 mentioned in this place as a new article in the ma- 

 teria medica, at least with respect to the principles 

 and manner of its application. The simplicity, 

 pleasantness, universal readiness of access, and un- 

 questionable efficacy of this remedy, will, it is to 

 be hoped, soon recommend it to general use. The 

 honour due to Dr. Currie, of Liverpool, for his 

 enlightened experiments, and valuable publication 

 on this subject, was before noticed. 



The efficacy and uses of Peruvian Bark have 

 been better understood, within the last century, 

 than in any former period. Its free and successful 

 exhibition by modern physicians, in intermittent 

 fevers, in scrophula, in cases of gangrene and 

 mortification, and in numerous diseases of relaxa- 

 tion and debility, is well known. To the exer- 

 tions of Sir Hans Sloane and others, in introduc- 

 ing this medicine into general use in Great- Britain, 

 much honour is due. 



The use of Mercurij has also been greatly ex- 

 tended, and its effects more accurately observed, 

 during the century under review. The introduc- 



