‘\ 
1810.] On Smoaking Stramonium, Kc. in Convulsive Asthma. 129 
for although they are determined not to 
believe the by them presumed extra- 
vagant things, so strictly enjoined, they 
are equally determined to believe others 
to the full as extravagant. But, say 
they, do not we go to the fountain- head’; 
and, is not ours tite true interpretation? 
—Unanswerable logic. 
Yo narrow these questions to the ut- 
most, expedience will generally be found 
in the end, to reste with liberty and 
right. Mr. Hall, on reflection, will, no 
doubt, be convinced, that if the interest 
of proprietors will not induce thein to- 
cut dow thetr own trees, the nation is 
bound to sustain whatever may be the 
consequent loss, it being no more within 
the province of law, to forbid their hoard- 
me or wasting of timber, than their 
hi ardine or wasting of money. ‘Phere is 
an especial reason too, why no restaints 
en preperty should be demanded, since 
such ever have the effect of arousing the 
jealousy of the nich, and disinclining 
them to just and necessary reform, how- 
ever certain cries may have been dn- 
duloed as a stalking horse. The agra- 
riuk principles of many reformers, have 
given but too much colour. to the stupid 
and erroneous notion, that eguadéty in the 
vocabulary of liberty, implied an equali-_ 
zation of property, instead of an equatity 
of respective rights. 
POLITICO-ECONOMICUS,. 
s elaine aa 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
AVING observed some remarks on 
asthina ina late number of your 
exccilent Magazine, 1 beg to. inform the 
author that he lias the thanks of a fellow 
sufferer for his communication + it is im- 
possible for au asthmatic. to forget his 
suiferings, however fortunate he may 
have been in obtaining a cure, 
pears that the stramonium offers the usual ( 
mitigation of an opiate, or narcotic, in 
tlie convulsive state of the disorder. Your 
correspondent informs us,in general terms, 
that he hus not felt the liorrors of the at- 
tack for many months. His history 
shews that he has been the victim of vex- 
ation of mind as well as of body, and I 
ain Jed to conjecture, that he is con- 
tented with the abatement of his distress, 
and the soothing of the acute feclings of 
the complaint. Many asthmatics find 
the same effect from gmoaking tobacco. 
I have had recommended to me the 
soaking ofhops. The humnulus of hop 
48 known to possess. A soporific quality ; 
and the ventlemian who strongly advised 
tap- | 
some directions upon principle, 
me to use it, had experienced an antise 
pasmodic or anodyne property, both 
during the fit and under the nervous de- 
pression which he had been accustomed 
to feel in the intervals. did not adopt 
his advice, because 1 observed that my 
friend had an indolent habit, and resigned 
himselfto the practice of soaking this 
plant and tobaeco, to the neglect of active 
pursuits; and tha at if pail was absent 
from its influence, apathy and general 
weakness were foo predomimant to excite 
my emulation in the use ef his reiedies. 
The relief from smoaking these sabstan- 
ces may be derived from the carbonated 
vapour, in some instances, where ‘tke 
lungs may be excited toe much by a pu- 
rer air. In other cases, the narcetic 
impregnation may be useful in subduing 
the acute sensibility ef the nerves of “the 
lungs, while some asthmatics may have 
present relief from these courses separate 
or combined, there are others whe have 
had no benefit whatever; and as i am 
informed, have grown worse under the 
use of smoaking narcotic herbs, | Persons 
who have long suffered a disorder, hear 
much cf the complaint, aud receive mich 
popular advice—this bad beert my case 
for fifteen years. In this. period, t con- 
sulted more than twice the number of 
medical men than are enumerated by your 
correspondent Verax, “L have consumed 
as much gum aimoniac, asafetida, 
ether, and opium, &c. &c. as would 
have set up an apothecary ef great prac- 
tice : my complaint came in winter and 
spring with great force, and I was visited 
by it at other seasons, from changes of 
weather, fatigue, or inpridence! ia cating 
OF drinking. I have no right te complain 
that my medical friends followed the 
same track, for I presume they had no 
other path to -persne, i attemouting the 
relief which they sincerely desired to at 
ford. ' 
But IT wanted more than the removal 
of symptoms, and 1 expected in vain 
that 
might serve to protect me against returns, 
and toalrer the frame so far, thatit might 
become less susceptible of the various 
canses- of asthma. In the year 1805, [ 
perused an * Inquiry into disordered 
Respiration and Asthma,” by Dr. Robert 
Bree. Your correspondent Verax gives 
a tribute to the attention and manners 
of this physician, which m the absence 
of all personal acquaintance with him, 
Tam not able to confirm, but 7 gratefull 
acknowiedve the information I ‘have de- 
rived fron “his treatise on asthma. His 
seasoning 
