276 
troublefome fymptoms of the difeafe, and 
retard its pregrefs towards a fatal conclu- 
fion ; but it is merely becaufe all of them 
pofle(s in common the property of mode- 
rating the rapidity of the circulation, and 
of deducting from a morbid excefs of irri- 
tability. 
It is not unhkely that the atmofphere 
of a cow-houle, may be of advantage to a 
phthifical paticnt from the mildnefs of its 
temoerature, but ftill more in confequence 
of its being in a confiderable degree de- 
oxygenated, by the carbonated and azotic 
exhalations from the lungs and skin of its 
vaccine inhabitants. 
Difeales of a fimilar outward appear- 
ance, are often confounded as to their 
caule and effential nature. Pulmonic af- 
fetions, fuch as cough, difficulty of 
breathing, pain and opprefiion on the 
breaft, with other concomitant fymptoms, 
when theyoccurin young perfons, generally 
imply a too great fufceptibility of the lungs, 
and of courle require a proportionate fub- 
traction of external ftimulus, In order 
to preferve the due ftate of excitement, 
the ftrength of the exciting power ought 
invariably to be lowered in the fame de- 
gree, as the conftirutional excitability is 
raifed above the proper ftandard. 
In confequence of this crcumftance it 
will be generally found, that in confump- 
tive cales which occurat an early period 
of life, the aerial contaminstion of Lon- 
don will prove more whole me and falu- 
tary, than even the pure and virgin breezes 
of the country. The flame of human 
hife, like that of a common fire, wiil burn 
jonger, although not fo bright, in an air 
which poffefles a {mall, than in that which 
is over-charged with a fuperabundant 
proportion of its vital ingredient. 
On the other hand, the aftlimas and ca- 
tarrhs of the advanced in lite, being for 
the moft part conneéted with a reduced 
excitability, require and are uniformly re- 
heved by a feafonable departure frem the 
metropolis.* The influence of the air. 
will appear highly important, when we 
confider that it operates upon us incef- 
fantly, without even a momentary inter- 
miffion; and that it is imbibed not mere- 
ly by the lungs, but alfo by every one of 
_® In thefe remarks, the author will ap- 
pear to have adopted, to a certain extent, the 
theory of the celebrated Brown. However 
imperfedt and unfinifhed this theory may be 
in fome refpeéts, the divifion of all the gene- 
‘ral dileafes of the fyftem into ffhenic and aftbe- 
mic, is 10 Clearly juft, as to preclude even the 
poftibility of rational difputation. 
Lid of Difeafes.. 
[April 1, 
the myriad of mouths that open upon the , 
furface of the body. 
A remarkable cafe has lately occurred 
of a general eruption and difcoloration of 
the fkin, attendéd with an almoft intolera- 
ble itching, which, according to the pa- 
tient’s account of it, feems to have origi- 
nated from a violent fhock fhe received 
from the fudden and unexpected death of a 
beloved friend, that was accompanied with 
circumfiances of peculiar horror. She 
never was affected in a fimilar manner be- 
fore, and het prefent cutaneous difeafe 
came.on without any other apparent caufe, 
almoft immediately after the -melancholy 
event alluded to. | 
_ Typhus has once more affumed a very 
formidable afpect ; and threatens, as the 
fummer heat advances, to {pread its pefti+ 
lential influence ftil! more widely among 
the poor inhabitants of this crowded ca- 
pital.— This dileafe has already been fo 
much the fubieé&t of obfervation, that it is 
{carcely neceflary or even poffible, to fay 
much more of any importance with regard 
to it. After the ftomach and inteftines 
have been thoroughly cleanfed, there can 
be no doubt that wine and wafhing are the 
cardinal remedies. The dofes of the 
former ought to be regulated, in a certain 
degree, by the conftitution and previous 
habits of the patient. It fhould, hows 
ever, be remarked, that this remedy is in 
general both too fcantily and too tardily 
adminiftered. In fever, the time is fo fhart 
in which any thing effectual can be done 5 
that it is the incumbent and urgent duty 
of aphyfician, to wafte not a fingle inftant, 
in delaying to act with that degree of 
energy, which is proportionate to the ma- 
lignant nature of the difeafe, and to the 
alarming rapidity of its progrefs. The 
fearful and teeble practitioner who Jets his 
patient die, is as much to be cenfured, 
as if he had attually put him to death by 
the rafhnefs and extreme violence of his 
treatment. Between pofitive and negative 
murder, there exifts no’ important moral 
diftinétion. ? , 
Withregard to the wafhing cf the pae 
tient, the reporter thinks it right to re- 
mark, that in a_great variety of trials, he 
has found more benefit and lefs inconve- 
nience from the application of tepid than 
of coid water. By tepid, he means water 
warmed only fo far, as not to excite any 
fenfation either of heat or cold. It ads 
merely ‘as an ablution, which clears the 
{kin of that invifible fitth which is calcue 
lated not merely to protraé& andappravate, 
but even. to induce the exiftence of fever 
in the conftitution. This, in’ a fill 
greater degree, mult be the cafe, when, as 
12 
