620 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ' [aNNO 1742. 



The principal writers besides, on anatomy and physiology, which our author 

 seems to have had in view, are Du Verney, Willis, Senac upon Heister, and 

 Verduc's excellent book, L'Usage des Parties. 



yarious Medico-chirurgical Observations. By John Daniel Schlichting, M. et 

 Chir. D. i^c. N° 466, p. 270. u4n Abstract from the Latin. 



Of these observations, the first relates to the spina ventosi, between which 

 and the lues venerea. Dr. S. thinks there is a great analogy. He has found 

 that mercury used internally and externally (but particularly mercurial inunction 

 over the affected parts), to be as efficacious in many cases of the spina ventosa, 

 as it is in the venereal disease. He directs a small portion of the mercurial oint- 

 ment to be rubbed upon the affected part twice a day, with the occasional use of 

 a gentle purge to prevent a ptyalism, which, contrary to what is observed re- 

 specting the venereal disease, is not beneficial in these cases. This mercurial 

 friction is to be continued (if necessary) for 2 or 3 months. Where, after using 

 the mercurial inunction for some weeks, no material advantage appeared to be 

 gained, in consequence of the carious bone not exfoliating. Dr. S. caused the 

 ulcers to be dilated, and pledgets moistened with tincture of myrrh, and other 

 stimulant and antiseptic dressings to be applied, and kept on with proper ban- 

 dages ; leaving the fulness and hardness, which often remained after the sepa- 

 ration of the bone, and the healing of the ulcers, to disperse of itself, or using 

 for this purpose nothing more than the gum-plaster. 



In the 2d observation, an account is given of a girl 3 years old, who was at- 

 tacked with a pleurisy, which terminated in an abscess of the lungs, and diffi- 

 culty of breathing, which continued for some months ; after which there sud- 

 denly came on a discharge of pus from the vagina (per vulvam), which discharge 

 was almost continual day and night for nearly 4 months ; at the expiration of 

 which time, the patient got perfectly well, with very little assistance from me- 

 dicine. 



In the 3d observation, mention is made of an abscess of the spleen, terminat- 

 ing favourably in a purulent discharge from the vagina. 



The 4th observation relates to an emission of blood in coitu, instead of se- 

 men. This happened in a young man l6 years of age, who, 4 years before, 

 had laboured under a virulent gonorrhoea, and who, for the space of 12 months, 

 had taken not only strong cathartics, but strong diuretics also. This discharge 

 of blood from the urethra was not accompanied with pain, and never happened 

 extra coitiis aut pollutionis tempus. Finding that the most powerful astringents 

 and various other medicines (among which was mercury given until it produced 



