J38 scrENxrtic vtw$. 



To attain this Important objed, the author has inquired what 

 4 * the true caufe of fevers, as of their efte(5ts, is ; v. hat the nature 



of the febrifuge principle of phinchoa, and what its aftion on 

 our fyftem. He has fubjeded to the adion of the re-agents 

 pointed out for the febrifuge principle of cinchona, all chemical 

 and medicinal fubftances ; and afTured himfelf, whether fuch of 

 thefe fubftances, as might contain the febrifuge principle, did 

 not contain, at the fame time,^ other fubftances prejudicial to 

 the animal economy. Laftly, he had to cure fevers by the 

 help of thefe remedies, and then confirm this theory by re- 

 peated experiments. Such is the courfe Cit. Seguin has 

 purfued. 

 The febrifuge The new febrifuge principle, which he propofes to fubftilute 

 prmcipeis jnftead of cinchona, becaufe it unites all the advantages of the 

 bark, without any of it* inconveniences, is gelatine in its 

 pure ftate. 

 Advantages this Confidered in a medical, economical, and political view, 

 pofleflesover gelatine promifes much greater advantages than bark, in its 

 application to the cure of fevers. It occalions no irritation ; 

 procures quiet fleep and gentle perfpiration ; keeps the belly 

 open, without producing colic or naufea : has no unpleafant 

 flavour; reftores the ftrength, and is ciigeftsd even by the 

 weakeft ftomach, that would rejed the bark as foon as ad- 

 miniftered. 

 Difadvantagts of On the other hand, cinchona irritates the fyftem, difturbs 

 bark. the fleep, has a difagreeable tafte, frequently occafions cof- 



tivenefs, and is very indigeltible. 

 Comparative In an economical view, there is ftill greater difference be- 



«ktme/ ° tween cinchona and gelatine ; the price of the latter being to 

 that of the former at moft as one to thirty-two. 



Laftly, gelatine is indigenous, cinchona is not ; and the 



purchafe of the latter requires us to fend abroad a very confi- 



derable fum of money, which might be kept at home by 



adopting the ufe of gelatine. 



Cafes cured by To this memoir the author has fubjoined thirty-feven cafes, 



"• in which he performed a cure with gelatine, under the eyes of 



fome refpe6table phyficians, and he has defired a Committee 



to be appointed, to repeat his experiments, and report upon 



them. 



Committee ap- Accordingly Citizen Portal, DefefTarts, Hall^, Fourcroy, 



Eus'effeSs BerthoUet, and Deyeux, have been nominated for thispurpofe. 



° '* ' '* 3 Their 



