( 270 ) 
[April 1, 
ACCOUNT or tut DISEASES rx LONDON, 
From the 20th of February to the 20th of March, 
Admitted under theCare of the Phyficians of the Finfbury Difpenfary. 
Noe. of Cafes. 
FEBRIS Catarrhalis 2 69 
Rheumatifmus = = 23 
Dyfpnea - 7 5 19 
Afthenia - - = 32 
Dyfenteria - - > 9 
Amenorrhea = - > 18 
Menorrhagia - - = 6 
Leucorrhea > = = § 
Epilepfia > - = 9 
Hyfteria - - 7 1! 
Afcites & Anafarca - = 7 
Morbi Cutanei - = 21 
Morbi Infantiles - 3° 
The late epidemic, intitled the Influen- 
za, has not, fo far as the author of this ar- 
ticle has been able to notice it, differed in 
any effential or important fymptom from 
the febris catarrhalis. Some of the ordi- 
nary fymptoms, however, of the catarrhal 
fever have in this been unufually aggra- 
vated, efpecially that of debility, which, 
- if fome inftances, has amounted to an ab- 
folute and permanent proftration of corpo- 
real ftrength. The practice of the writer, 
in the prevailing epidemic, has been fim- 
ple and uniform. The immediate admini- 
ftration of an emetic, a blifier to the breaft, 
an opiate at night, and in cafe of coftive- 
nefs gentle aperients ; mucilaginous mix- 
tures, and the abftraction of flimuli whilft 
the cough continues violent 3 and after 
that, in order to fecure and accelerate the 
procefs of convalefcence, nourifhing diet, 
and pharmaceutical tonics, have confti- 
tuted nearly the whole of his treatment in 
this difeafe. The propriety and fufficiency 
of this treatment feem to have been con- 
firmed by not one folitary inftance of the 
difeafe, under his care, having terminated 
in death. 
In the difeafes of children, which af- 
fume fo prominent a figure in this and in 
every one of thefe periodical catalogues, 
there appears a monotonous uniformity in 
tiicir fymptoms, their caufes, and of con- 
fequence in the mode of treatment which 
they require. A 
For the moft part, they originate either 
from the exiftence of fome fpecies of 
filth in the ftomach, or inteftinal canal, 
or an infufficient and too partial an atten- 
tion to cutaneous cleanlinefs. Ivo fuch 
circumftances principally may be afcribed 
thofe eruptions and difcolourations of the 
fkin, the convulfions, lofs of f{pirits, appe- 
tite, and ftrength, the interrupted or per- 
turbed fleep, and the generality of thofe 
Jjebricule ox feverets to which the ten- 
der and very irritable conftitution of a 
child is fo particularly expofed. 
From the principle which has beer 
ftated, it obvioufly follows, that the ob 
je& of the phyfician, in almof all infantile 
diforders, is ‘to take care that both the * 
furface and the interior of the body fhould 
be wafhed, and preferved in a ftate of 
the moft exact cleanlinefs, the one by 
bathing, anda frequent renewal of rai- 
ment, and the other by avoiding any kind 
of indigeftible or unwholefome food, and 
the careful, but active, application, for a. 
time, of emetic and cathartic remedies. 
Could this intelligible and fimple maxim 
be duly and generally impreffed upon the 
minds of mothers, and the other, whether 
male or female, guardians and protectors 
of infants, how many thouiands of thofe 
little victims might be reprieved from 
death, who, at prefent, are daily and hour- 
Jy immolated at the fhrine of ignorance, 
prejudice, or empyriciim ! 
By the impofing and irrefiftible evi- 
dence of faéts, the opinion which the Re- 
porter has Jong fince entertained and ex- 
prefied in favour of the powerful efficacy of 
fteel, has been fo much enlarged, and fo 
thoroughly confirmed, that of late he has. 
been induced to apply it,not merely to one 
or two difeales, but, with {carcely a’ fingle 
exception, whatever the age or diftinction 
in life of the patient may be, to all cafes 
in which relaxation and debility appear ~ 
the prominent, primary, and characterif- 
tic fymptoms. 
Thetortures even of acute rheumatifm, 
and the cough which ufualiy accompanies 
catarrh, he has not unfrequently obferved 
to be, in- a fenfible and confiderable de- 
gree, alleviated by the adminifration of a 
drug,which, from its ative and wholefome 
energy, contributes, more perhaps than 
any other, to obliterate the opprobrium of 
inefficiency or incertitude, which popular- 
ly indeed, but moft injurioufly and igno- ~ 
rantly, has been attached to the practice 
of the medical profefiion. 
It is fomewhat fingular, that the very 
fame metal, which is fo often made ufe of 
as a weapon of deflruction, inthe hands of 
the warrior, or the affaffin, fhould, in ~ 
thofe of the difcerning and well-inftruéted 
phyfician, be converted into one of the 
moft powerful and infallible inftruments 
to be found in the magazine of nature, for 
reftoring health, and giving, fometimes as 
it were by magic, new life, vigour, and 
even beauty, to the human frame. 
No. 30, Southampton-rew, J. Reide 
Rufell-/qzare. 
March 26, 1803. 
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