of a partial Obstruction of the Circulation. 491 



The spleen is indeed not so directly in the course of the 

 circulation,, as to cause an immediate effect upon the organ ; 

 but still, the agent employed is so powerful, that I had little 

 doubt of its ultimate effect. I was careful to select cases 

 in which the spleen had been recently enlarged, and with 

 little thickening of the parenchyma of the organ. The follow- 

 ing is the result of the experiments. 



In nine cases I applied the tourniquet in cases of engorged 

 spleen without fever. In all the cases there was benefit deriv- 

 ed from the remedy ; the spleen became softer and smaller. 

 Two of these cases were cured by the application of the 

 tourniquet. Three applications of the tourniquet were made 

 in one, and four in the other case ; and seven patients were 

 in a fair way of recovery by a continuance of the treatment. 



Elephantiasis. 



This is a common disease in Bengal ; and often recurs for 

 many years before it acquires the great size it sometimes 

 assumes, when it is usually known by the name of elephan- 

 tiasis. In its primary form, it is called by the natives " Gan- 

 ger" or u Saket ;" when it is supposed by them to be pro- 

 duced by the influence of the energy of the water over the 

 other corporeal elements. It commences with a feeling of 

 indigestion, and general uneasiness ; a tenderness and pain 

 of the groin or axilla, succeeded by a feverish state, in which 

 the skin is hot and dry. This fever has a daily exacerbation, 

 which increases on the second and declines on the third day, 

 and is succeeded by pain, and swelling of one of the arms, 

 or feet and legs. The bowels are sometimes constipated, at 

 other times relaxed. The scrotum is sometimes affected in 

 the same way. These swellings sometimes take place at the 

 upper part of the thigh or arm, with more pain but less 

 swelling than when they occur in the extremities of the mem- 

 bers. That of the arm is often in the inner side, and ex- 

 tends in an oblong form to half the length of the arm. 



