VOL. LV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 217 



How comes it that this poison (the secale comutum) at one time produces 

 spasms, at another gangrene, sometimes with fever, but generally without ? 

 These are questions which are involved in much difficulty, and of which a solu- 

 tion is only to be expected after numberless observations and experiments. Dr. 

 T. remarks that the whole of this subject is highly deserving the attention of 

 physicians, presenting many phenomena, which if well understood, might 

 throw much light on some obscure points in physic. 



In regard to the treatment of this disorder; the medical practitioners at Mar- 

 purg give purgative medicines at first, and afterwards sudorific bitters. Langolius 

 recommended acids. Langius prescribed an emetic in the beginning and afterwards 

 sudorific bitters, directing his patients to abstain from all sort of food that was viscid, 

 fat, and otherwise difficultly digestible. The use of hot or new bread was especially 

 forbidden, being found much more hurtful than stale bread. The vitiated rye loses 

 its poisonous quality by keeping. Hence this disorder is most prevalent immedi- 

 ately after the harvest, becoming gradually less frequent, till at length it entirely 

 ceases, although there still remains a supply of the secale comutum. 



The only part of Muller's practice (which consisted chiefly of antispasmodics) 

 which Dr. T. approves, was the application of blisters. 



In Sologne the pains were relieved by bloodletting. The mortification was 

 sometimes stopped by [using externally] a decoction of vitriol, alum, and 

 common salt, (ff) In the case of a boy, whose leg had mortified, Mons. Puy 

 made a large incision down to the bone, after which he perforated the bone in 

 several places with a trephine; nearly the whole of the bone came away by ex- 

 foliation ; but the loss was gradually supplied by a callus, and new granulations of 

 flesh taking place, the patient at length got entirely well. 



Having himself had no experience in these cases. Dr. T. only suggests that 

 after premising venesection according to circumstances, it might be proper to 

 prescribe an ipecacuanha emetic, and perhaps to repeat the emetic; to purge 

 with the bitter salts; and then to give large doses of elixir of vitriol and Peru- 

 vian bark with the decoction of chamomile.* He further suggests the applica- 

 tion of large blisters to the neck and os sacrum, and after making large incisions 

 into the affected parts, to foment them constantly with a vinous decoction of 

 Peruvian bark. 



Is the term gangraena ustilaginea, which has been applied to this disorder, a 

 proper one? He thinks it is not. 



Is this disorder the morbus ardentium ? The disease so called (he observes) 

 appears to have been an erysipelas frequently terminating in gangrene. Accord- 



(fF) Memoir, present. Tom. II. p. 16'2. 



* Why not also wine and opium ? The curative indications seem to be, first to cleanse tlie intes* 

 tinal canal by cathartics, and then to administer cordial and anodyne medicines. 

 VOL. XII. F F 



