310 Prof. E. D. Smith on Calculous Affections. 



In connection with this part of the subject would it not be 

 a valuable, pathological fact to ascertain, whether females in 

 general, and male children are more subject to one peculiar 

 kind of calculus than to another ; and whether this is like- 

 wise the case, with regard to male adults, at different peri- 

 ods of life f 



It might also be an useful inquiry, what influence climate 

 has in producing such a state of the system as favors the 

 formation of calculous matter. We are told that such dis- 

 eases are exceedingly rare, either in very hot or very cold 

 countries j and to discover whether the extremes of tem- 

 perature prevent such alterations of the digestive powers, 

 as take place in more temperate climates, would therefore 

 be an interesting physiological fact. 



From all that has been now said, may it not be inferred 

 that, with respect to uric calculi at least, their formation is 

 generally preceded by an impaired state of the digestive or- 

 gans, which state may be produced either by diet too luxu- 

 rious or too much impoverished, by occupations of too 

 sedentary a nature, by uninterrupted mental pursuits, by 

 confinement, even in active employments, to a close room. 

 &;c. : a combination of two or more of these causes being 

 sufficiently injurious, although one alone might not be so. 

 And if this influence be correct, the propriety of using rem- 

 edies that act chemically upon the fluids, while the other 

 plain indications are likewise attended to, is sufficiently evi- 

 dent. 



Hoping that this imperfect essay will incite the inquirer 

 after knowledge to investigate, for himself, the sources of in- 

 formation as to this interesting subject, among such I would 

 take the hberty to mention the 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 30th 

 and 34th volumes of the London Medical and Physical 

 Journal, and Dr. Marcet's treatise upon calculous disorders, 

 observing however that of this last work I have seen only a 

 review, but that I entertain no doubt of its being the most 

 satisfactory which has yet appeared. 



JoMuary, 1819. 



