530 



Additional Notei. 



in various capaclcies, to reside in the West-Indies. Are dis- 

 eases on tiiis side of the globe more gigantic in stature, more 

 marked and incapable of disguise in their features than in the' 

 land of our ancestors — or to what else are we to attribute 

 this effect? 



It would exceed the limits of this note, and appear un-^ 

 becoming in the author, to enter into any discussion of the 

 conflicting opinions of American and European physicians. 

 Nothing more, therefore, than a rapid glance at the sub- 

 ject shall be attempted. 



Medical science in America claims the merit of improve-' 

 ments and discoveries on the following subjects, A more 

 simple and correct doctrine concerning the radical and uni- 

 versal relations of diseases; a more rational and practical esti- 

 mate of nosology, the importance of which seems to have 

 been greatly over-rated in Europe; more just, accurate and 

 consistent opinions concerning the origin and causes of epi- 

 demic and pestilential diseases, according to which the no- 

 tions of their importation and exportation from one country 

 to another are rejected, and the doctrine of their production 

 from a vitiated state of the atmosphere in the situations where 

 they are found to prevail, is satisfactorily established ; more 

 correct principles on the subject of Quarantine, which might 

 diminish the burdens and restrictions of commerce, and rentier 

 the intercourse of nations more hospitable and humane ; and 

 a more extensive acquaintance with the medicinal virtues and 

 uses of many articles of the vegetable kingdom. 



Among many particular disea.ses and rem.edies, the manage- 

 ment of which lias been improved in the United States, the fol- 

 lowing may be selected vv^ith great confidence. A more sim- 

 ple and efhcacious treatment of jxrstilential diseases ; a more 

 correct theory and practice in dropsy, particularly in that of 

 the brain; a more discriminating, decisive and successful em- 

 ployment of blood-letting in fevers, and more just indica- 

 tions, founded upon the appearances of the blood after being 

 drawn ; and a more extensive and cfEcacious use of mercury 

 in a variety of diseases. 



In effecting these and many other improvements, the pliy- 

 sicians of the United States have laboured with a laudable 

 and enlightened diligence. In die first rank of those who 

 have thus honourably employed their talents, it is proper to 

 place the name of Dr. Rush, v^/hose devotedness to science, 

 and Wiiose ardour, eloquence, and perseverance in the dis- 

 semination of it, will cause the period of his public instruc- 



