COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS. 89 



fauces may be produced by, and always accompanies tbe 

 intemperate use of, intoxicating liquors ; but then the 

 tongue is unnaturally red ; the papillae at the tip and 

 gustatory papillae prominent and angry. The condition 

 of the fauces is well worthy the attention of the profes- 

 sion; let them notice it, if possible, in almost every 

 patient that comes before them, and they will soon be 

 struck with the correct index these parts afford of the 

 habits of their possessors. There is one source of fal- 

 lacy which must, however, be guarded against. This is 

 a temporary vascular injection, induced by the long- 

 continued straining of some people, when requested to 

 take a deep breath for the purpose of showing the fauces. 

 Where, however, the examiner is aware of this fact, he 

 will find no difficulty in distinguishing the temporary- 

 blush from the permanent stain. I may here add, by- 

 the-by, that I have occasionally detected habits of in- 

 temperance, which the statement of the examinee, and 

 the letters of his referees, gave no note of. In truth, 

 there are many men who habitually drink more than is 

 consistent with longevity, but who never get drunk. 

 Such men invariably declare that they are quite tempe- 

 rate. This condition of the tongue and fauces is not 

 limited to the mouth ; it is not a mere local congestion ; 

 it exists, more or less, in the stomach, and the rest of 

 the alimentary canal; and hence, I believe, in the other- 

 wise healthy subject^ a cigar acts as a moderate purga- 

 ' tive, but in typhus as a poison. Can, however, any 

 medical man assert, that it is natural or healthy to take 

 an aperient daily ? In the habitual smoker the heart is 



