Dr. Miller on Phosphoric Acid. 163 
thing of what I know, as I have not seen any mention of this 
acid as aremedy in that disease. 
_ About six years ago I had a very obstinate case that re- 
sisted the common remedies. I was led to use the phos- 
phoric acids on the principle that the acids decompose the 
bile. I made choice of this on account of its existing in a 
separate state in the blood. 
I directed a large spoonful of the acid as prepared in 
Murray’s Materia Medica in a pint of balm tea to be taken 
as fast as the stomach would bear it, till it should operate as 
a diuretic. In twenty-four hours the patient had taken eight 
pints, and it had operated powerfully as a diuretic. Neither 
the urine nor the white of the eye was as yellow as before, 
by a very obvious difference. I ordered a continuance under 
the same directions and in two days more the urine was of 
nearly the natural color ; but the skin had not improved in 
the same proportion. I advised tonics with the occasional 
use of the acid and my patient shortly recovered. 
I have had many of the same complaint since that time 
and have directed nearly in the same manner, according to 
the age and condition of the patients and the result has been 
the restoration of health in a very short time. In general, 
the yellowness disappeared in three or four days from the 
urine, but continued a little longer on the skin; by the use 
of tonics and sometimes a little of the acid this is however 
removed in a few days. I have met with only one pa- 
tient, whose symptoms have not yielded to the above plan. 
This was a person eighty years of age. Even in this case 
however, the acid always produced relief; but the com- 
plaint soon returned. My present practice is to give a ca- 
thartic of Calomile and Julep or some of the neutral salts, 
and then the balm tea moderately acidulated with the phos- 
phoric acid, which I direct to have continued till it ope 
rates as a diuretic and until the urine becomes clear or 
neatly so; this commonly takes place in the course of two 
days. I have advised other acids when this has not been 
at hand; but I am inclined to give the preference to the 
phosphoric, although I think the others deserve a farther 
trial. : 
I might have entered much more into detail, but I am 
satisfied that it needs only a trial to convince any candid 
person of the advantage of this acid in the cure of the Jaun- 
