624 
OBSERVATIONS ON COLIC. 
it struck me that, though there were many passages contradictory 
of such an idea, the general tenor of the statement was such as 
might possibly lead the reader to imagine, I wished the public to 
believe I had hit upon a medicine which, like some quack nostrum, 
was applicable to every disorder, and never failed in establishing 
a perfect cure. My language was guarded, but the more pleasant 
features of the narrative were perhaps a little too conspicuous, and 
likely to overlay the caution which several sentences contained. I 
should have been more anxious to enforce that on which I only 
occasionally dwelt, had ether or chloroform appeared to me cal- 
culated to aggravate disease, or likely, in any degree, to be 
attended with danger. But when I wrote I had no knowledge 
their administration could do injury ; and since then, though T have 
given both repeatedly, I am still impressed with the belief, that, if 
not in every case equally beneficial, in no instance are they, when 
scientifically employed, likely to be injurious. Here, however, let 
me qualify my assertion ; begging it may be accepted only as a 
declaration of the opinion I have formed from the results which 
have as yet come under my observation. I must not be under- 
stood to imply that these agents cannot do harm ; I intend to 
convey no such meaning. 1 wish only to state, that at present my 
experience has impressed me with a conviction that ether and 
chloroform are possessed of many curative properties, and, when 
properly diluted, may be given in large doses without aggravating 
disease. 
May I now, without appearing to be impertinent, presume to 
offer a few remarks on the very interesting case which you have 
published for the information of the profession. I am tempted to 
do so, lest any one might be led to imagine that the statements I 
made were either overcharged or unfounded. Those who know 
me, I may perhaps think, will not imagine there is any necessity 
I should trouble myself on such a matter ; but too many persons 
are apt to jump at conclusions upon isolated reports. Such might 
conjecture your experiment was a contradiction to the results I 
had obtained, and hence neglect that which a little consideration 
would convince them was worthy at least of being tried. The 
habit of thus hastily deciding is unfortunately only too general. A 
medicine, if newly introduced to notice, is often cast aside as 
useless, because, in the first trial made of its efficacy, it does not act 
“ like magic.” I do not conceive ether or chloroform are endued 
with any charmed powers. No doubt they may occasionally dis- 
appoint us, but they have done so more seldom than any other 
medicine I am in the habit of employing. This is the^ utmost I 
can advance in their favour, and I do not pretend for an instant 
they are either infallibles or specifics. 
