313 
HE VIEW — A TREATISE, &c. 
A slight sketch of the human influenza, as it appeared about the 
same time at Blandford, is added from the able pen of a relative 
of Mr. Spooner’s. Were we to stop here, this “ Treatise would 
be highly valuable, as presenting at one view a summary of all 
that is valuable in the essays and discussions on this sub- 
ject.’’ 
“ The pith of the debate,” as Mr. Spooner well remarks, “ and 
of the essays, was on the propriety of bloodletting and laxatives.” 
He gives a list of the opinions of the speakers, pro and con. 
We add those also of the writers. The advocates of bleeding, 
but varying as to the quantity abstracted, were Professors Sewell 
and Stewart, and Messrs. Ainslie, Carlisle, Dickens, Harvey, 
Holmes, Jeffery, Percivall, Sibbald, C. Spooner, W. C. Spooner, 
Turner, Wallis, and Youatt. Those who objected altogether to 
bleeding were, Messrs. Field, Cheetham, Karkeek, and Titmarsh. 
Fifteen to four, or nearly four to one. 
On the question of laxatives, for no one approved of strong 
purgatives, the name of Mr. Turner is inserted, inadvertently, 
on both sides. This error being rectified, and the names of the 
essayists being added, there is not the near equality of numbers 
which Mr. Spooner imagines. The advocates of laxative medicine 
were Professors Sewell and Stewart, and Messrs. Dickens, Har- 
vey, Karkeek, Percivall, Sibbald, W. C. Spooner, Turner, Wallis, 
ar.d Youatt. Those who objected to laxatives of any kind were 
Messrs. Ainslie, Cheetham, Field, Jeffrey, C. Spooner, and Tit- 
marsh. Eleven to six in favour of laxatives, or nearly two 
to one. 
Mr. Spooner proceeds to state his own opinion of the nature 
and treatment of the epidemic. We will give a very short 
abstract, referring our readers to the work itself, which we doubt 
not will soon find a place on their shelves. 
“ The most uniform symptoms that belong to this complaint 
are, general and considerable fever — characterised by an inva- 
riable loss of appetite, general dulness and lassitude, and almost 
invariable swelling and oedema of the eyelids. It is fever of 
a peculiar kind, having a particular disposition to debility and 
exhaustion. The balance of the constitution is destroyed — the 
arterial action being doubled, the veins are filled, but the capil- 
laries are gorged, and the lymphatics are unable to return the 
superabundance of fluid : thus we have swellings of the legs 
and sheath, and severe determination of blood to the weakest 
organ, and intense inflammation, and death. It is a nervous 
affection, and hence the rapid prostration of strength. 
“The mucous membranes are peculiarly disposed to be affected. 
The trachea and the bronchi in the winter months, and the ali- 
