I 2o6 3 
of fixed air in many putrid diforders, efpecially as 
it may be-fo eafily adminiflered by way of clyfter, 
where it would often find its way to much of the 
.putrid matter. Nothing is to be apprehended from 
the diftention of the bowels by this kind of air, 
fince it is fo readily abforbed by any fluid or moift 
iubftance. Since fixed air is not noxious perfe, but, 
like fire, only in excefs, I do not think it at all ha- 
zardous to attempt to breathe it. It is however 
.eafily conveyed, into the ftomach, in natural or 
•artificial Pyrmont water, in brifkly fermenting li- 
quors, or a vegetable diet. It is poffible, however, 
that a confiderable quantity of fixed air might be 
imbibed by the abforbing veffels of the fkin, if the 
whole body, except the head, fhould be l'ufpended 
over a veflel of ftrongly fermenting liquor ; and in 
home putrid diforders this treatment might be very 
falutary. If the body was expofed quite naked, 
there would be very little danger from the cold in 
this fituation, and the air having freer accefs to 
the Ikin might produce a greater efFedt. Being 
no phyfician, I run no rifk by throwing out thefe 
random, and perhaps whimfical, propofals. 
Having communicated my obfervations on fixed 
air, and efpecially my fchemeof applying it byway 
of clyjler in putrid diforders, to Mr. Hey, an in- 
genious furgeon in this town, a cafe prefently oc- 
curred, in which he had an opportunity of giving 
it a trial ; and mentioning it to Dr. Hird and Dr. 
Crowther, two phyficians who attended the pa- 
tient, they approved the fcheme, and it was put 
in execution : both by applying the fixed air by 
way of clyfter, and at the fame time making the 
4 patient 
