394 Beck on Salt Storms, ^c, 



4. I shall devote the remainder of this paper to a few con- 

 cise observations on the effects of salt, and a saline atmos- 

 phere, upon animal life. 



Upon the more imperfect animals, such as slugs, worms, 

 toads, &c. it is well known that salt proves speedily destruc- 

 tive of life. It is not my intention to attempt an explanation 

 of this singular fact. But it is remarkable that it should not 

 have been turned to better account in the treatment of those 

 worms, which infest the human body. Although used for that 

 purpose by the common people in Ireland as well as in thi« 

 country, I believe it has not, until very lately, claimed the 

 attention of the profession, as an anthelmintick. A late English 

 journal * contains a notice of some cases which satisfactorily 

 prove its efficacy, when administered with this intention. 

 This fact, in addition to numerous others, strikingly illus- 

 trates the advantages which the healing art might derive from 

 a careful observation of the phenomena daily developed by 

 the collateral sciences. 



In cases of hcemoptysis and hoematemesis, common salt has 

 been used with decided success. The public is indebted to 

 Dr. Rush, for the introduction of this remedy into general 

 practice. 



Dr. Hosack informs me, that he has found sea air extreme- 

 ly salutary in remittent fever, cholera infantum,, and dyspepsia. 



Among the deleterious effects caused by a saline atmosphere, 

 may be mentioned the ophthalmia of Egypt. This disease is 

 so common there, " that outof ahundred persons," says Volney, 

 " I have met while walking the streets of Cairo, twenty have 

 been quite blind, ten wanting an eye, and twenty others have 

 had their eyes red, purulent, or blemished."! Throughout 

 the Delta, and at Cairo, this complaint: is more prevalent than 

 in any other part of Egypt. In Syria it is also common, al- 

 though less so than in Egypt, but it is only met with on the 

 sea-coast. The reasoning of Volney on this subject, is decisive 

 of the position, that the prevalence of this complaint, in these 



* Journal of Science and the Arts. No. X. 



■'• Volne.y's Travels in Syria and Egypt, Vol. I. p. 167. 



