A few Remarks on the diseases of Seamen, 251 



lated back to animals. As to the nature of the contagion, 

 some facts lead to the suspicion, that it may be caused by a 

 vegetable parasite. Langenbeck observed a filiform fungus 

 in the discharge from the nose of a horse sick of glanders. 



Note. — We thought at first of adding notes, and of making some remarks on 

 this translation ; but it is so condensed, and contains so much matter on so great 

 a variety of subjects, that the task of annotation would have been unsatisfactory 

 as well as laborious. We have preferred giving it without comment, as a good 

 exposition of the most modern continental views on many interesting points in 

 medicine, and more especially of the opinions of what may be termed the natural- 

 historical school. We shall merely remark, that few practical men have any faith 

 in Liebig's plausible theoretical views regarding disease and the action of reme- 

 dies; indeed he has damaged himself by the extremely confident way in which he 

 has applied his theories to sciences with which he was imperfectly acquainted. 

 Nevertheless we hope soon to have an opportunity of giving a more detailed ac- 

 count of his views, than this paper affords, and also to indicate from time to time 

 the most recent opinions in physiological medicine, which has of late acquired a 

 degree of interest and of consequence, never before possessed by it. As to the 

 parasitic theory, it deserves at least the praise of much ingenuity.— J. M. P. 



A few remarks on the Diseases of Seamen in the year 1844. 

 By John Macpherson, M. D. 



The following table of cases treated in the Howrah 

 Hospital, exhibits a fair view of the diseases most common 

 among the seamen frequenting this port. On a general survey 

 of it, it is apparent that cholera and dysentery are the two 

 most fatal diseases. Fever, generally of a remittent type, is 

 the most common complaint, and at times adds largely to the 



