670 Dr. de mertans’s Obfervations 
tic, and of a leaden colour. In procefs of time the fwel- 
ling of the gums increafed ; they were ufed to affume a 
livid colour : puftules were formed in the mouth, the in- 
fection of the breath grew moft horrible, the gums and 
all the infide of the mouth became gangrenous, the jaw 
bones were carious, the fall of the teeth followed, and 
the bones of the alveoli fell to pieces. The fick could 
fcarce ftir, though they had as yet no fever, and had a 
very good appetite The legs of fome amongft them 
were from the firft covered with fcorbutic fpots, and dried 
crufts, like fcales; others only had thefe fymptoms after 
the mifchief had made a great progrefs. Moft of them 
had their legs fwelled. In fome, the flexor tendons of 
the legs grew fhorter, and ftiffened in fuch a manner 
that they were forced to keep always in a lying pofture, 
with 
venoient chache£liques, et d’une couleur plombee. Peuapeu le gonflemcnt des 
gencives augmentoit, elles prenoicnt une couleur livide; il fe formoit des puftules 
a la bouche l’haleine repandoit une infe&ion horrible; les gencives et tout le 
dedans de la bouche fe gangrenoit; les os des machoifes fe carioient, la chute 
des dents fuivoit, et les os des alveoles tombaient par morceaux. Les malades 
pouvoient a peine fe remver, quoique toujours fans fie v re; Papetit ne leur man- 
quoit pas. II y en avoit dont les jambes des le commencement etoient cou- 
vertes de taches fcorbutiques, et de croutes feches comme des ecailles; ad’autres 
elles ne venoient que lorfque le mal etoit fort avance, la p’us part avoient les 
jambees enftees. Chez quelques uns les tendons flechifleurs des jambes 
fe raccourcilfoient, et fe roidiftoient de facon qu’ils etoient obliges de refter 
continoellement couches, ayant les pieds pres des cuiffcs ; j’ai vu une 
couple 
