88 Medical Chemistry. - 
acid in catarrhal affections, is to procure sleep, and to di- 
minish the frequency of the paroxysms of coughing. The 
next day, we find the pulse less quick and hard, and by de- 
grees the cough becomes less violent. 1 have not observed 
that it produces expectoration, but it certainly diminishes 
the cough, and renders it less laborious. The intestinal ca- 
nal is gently excited, so that | have rarely been compelled 
to give purgatives a second time. By the moderate use of 
certain stimulants, we easily obviate the languor which 
sometimes in feeble and aged subjects, follows the use of 
the prussic acid ; and when the cough is alleviated, we can . 
certainly remove the debility by the use of the ammmoniacal 
tincture of iron, dissolved in brandy and water. 
Among the particular cases mentioned by Dr. Thoméon, 
are some sufficiently remarkable.—A man of thirty-seven 
years of age, habitually very healthy, and of a plethoric 
habit, had been for several weeks tormented with a very - 
wearing cough, which almost deprived him of sleep; the 
paroxysms became constantly more and more frequent ; 
his throat was much aftected—he had a great hoarseness, . 
with a short and wheezing respiration; after a cathartic, he 
took the prussic acid every two hours—dose, two drops in 
iwelve drachms of water. Immediately he gained sleep— 
his cough abated—expectoration became easy—the pulse 
erew soft, and in three days all the sympioms of the disease 
were appeased. 
A lady, aged forty years, of a sanguine and irritable tem- 
perament, and naturally gay, had been for two years labour- 
ing under the pthisis trachealis. Having the first year de- 
rived no benefit from medicine, she neglected the com- 
plait the second year, and took medicines only when the 
symptoms were aggravated. The disease was marked by 
a laborious coush——a perception of dryness in the throat, 
with danger of immediate suffocation, and a general inflam” 
mation and swelling of the back part of the mouth. These 
symptoms, accompanied by fever, and great irritability, 
never entirely ceased; they diminished at intervals, espe- 
cially in summer, but returned with increased violence with 
every exposure to cold. She was advised to quit England 
for warmer climates, but this was not executed. She srew 
worse—her pulse was small, quick, irregular, and varying 
with the state of her mind. She had palpitations, and very 
