Cetacea, S^c. 7169 



at first the kind of oil administered ; this was concealed from him, that 

 his imagination might not create a false idea of its effects. The results 

 of the use of the oil after the first week astonished the medical men. 

 " Increase of weight, less difficulty of breathing, bloody expectoration 

 checked, scarcely any profuse perspiration, diarrhoea stopped, appetite 

 better ; in fact, the results of the treatment were already apparent." 

 He expressed his satisfaction in taking " some oil " that agreed with 

 him. Each week, for a month, I visited him, and after taking a bottle- 

 ful of oil, the results of improvement were so evident — especially in 

 weight, less cough, healthy complexion and colour; in fact, a great 

 amendment on the first report for the better — that, to use Dr. Cotton's 

 own words in a letter to me, no one w^as more astonished at the results 

 of the treatment than the poor fellow himself. I need not remark that 

 the patient, from the interest taken in his case, was aware of something 

 being tried, and he begged to be allowed to shake hands and thank 

 me for what had been done. This is also a very satisfactory result of 

 the use of the dugong oil. 



I could state many other cases, but those mentioned are sufficient. 

 Not only in consumption has the oil proved beneficial, but in cases of 

 chronic dyspepsia with frequent constipation, or oftentimes accom- 

 panied with frequent diarrhceaj has this remedy proved valuable. 

 Young females particularly seem to benefit from it, and several persons 

 who have resided in tropical climes, with the digestive organs impaired, 

 or suffering from chronic dysentery, have derived great benefit where 

 nothing else seemed of use. I would particularly point out that diet 

 in this treatment is an all-necessary adjunct, and I may add that a long 

 residence in Oriental and Australian lands, in Her Majesty's service, 

 has afforded me that experience which is denied the resident physicians 

 of England. 



J. McGrigor Croft. 



Mandarin Villa, 8, Abbey Eoad, 



St. John's Wood, January, 1860. 



A Mole taking to the Water. — An acquaintance of mine was lately walking by the 

 side of the river Taw, near here, and observed a mole swimming across the river : he 

 could not credit it at first, and waited until it arrived at the side. A boy was at the 

 other side, who got the mole and attempted to throw it across, but did not succeed, 

 and the poor thing made another, but this time ineffectual, attempt to reach the shore, 

 and was drowned. My friend then got it out, to make sure that it was a mole, which 

 it proved to he.— Edward Pnrjitt; Museum, Taunton, August 20, 1860. 



xviii. ^ 3 c 



