Retrospect of Domestic Literature Medicine. 
«¢ Researches in anatomy, physiology, 
and that part of chemistry which is imme- 
diately connected with some of the branches 
of medicine, are also considered as appro- 
priate objects of communication; and likes 
‘wise descriptions of deviations from healthy 
structure, with such curious facts in the 
natural history of the human body, as oc- 
casionally present themselves. 
“© The particular periods at which the 
Medical and Chirurgical Society may pub- 
lish its Transactions, must. depend entirely 
on the quantity of valuable materials invits 
possession. As it is important however not 
to delay too long the publication of the 
communications with which the Society 
may be favoured, it is deemed advisable, 
rather to publish, within a mcderate period 
a small volume, than to wait till there is 
sufficient matter to form a large one. 
“ "The reading of such communications 
as are presented to the Soeiety, forms one 
part. of its ordinary business, The inter- 
change of practical knowledge, in the way 
of easy conversation, is the other; and the 
President and Council have much satisfac- 
tion ia noticing tue important advantages 
which have resulted, and still: continue to 
result, from the opportunities which are 
afforded, in a meeting of liberal and en- 
lightened professional men, of stating difh- 
culties, imparting observations, or suggest- 
ing imaprovements in practice. In further- 
ing this important object, the union of 
gsatlemen in, both branches of fhe profes- 
sion, affords a greater facility of obtaining 
accurate information on many points of 
practice, than could have been derived 
froma Society, composed of either physi- 
cians or Surgeons alone. It may. be pro- 
per however to remark, that it does not at 
all enter into the plan of this institution, to 
suffer its proceedings to assume the form of 
debate or disputation, 
*“ The form.tion of a select and extensive 
medicai library ior the use.of its nrembers, 
is an object of considerable importance with 
the Society, and the President and Council 
observe with satisfaction, that partly by 
donations, and partly by purchase, a-consi- 
derable number of valuable works has al- 
eady been obtained. 
Having made this general statemient, 
the Presideat and Council trust, that the ho-, 
nourable and dighisied objects of the Medi- 
eal and Chirurgical Society, and.the inde- 
pendent principles on which it was found- 
ed, willinsure to it the good wishes and 
cooperation of their professional brethren, 
both in and out of the metropolis. ‘They 
wish it tobe.as extensively useful as possible, 
and will therefore be glad to receive com- 
munications on subjects of medicine and 
surgery, or the branches. connected with 
them, and to insert in its transactions those 
which may be thought worthy of publica- 
tion.” 
659 
It is the fate of medicine, like other 
-arts, ‘to have its fashions. For a few 
‘years past, we have heard much of the 
liver, of, bile, and of mercury, as a re- 
medy. Probably the number of Anglo- 
Asiatics, who have returned with broken 
constitutions and immense wealth, may 
have increased this general suspicion of 
diseased livers, or at least, the anxiety 
to protract life with its -enjoyments. , 
Whatever may be the cause, it is cer- | 
tain that a mineral, once considered 
among the poisons, and even till ately - 
only referred to as a dernier resort, 
seeined likely to become the universal . 
panacea. Dr. Saunders, who has been 
so long celebrated for his ingenious re- 
mafks on hepatic diseases, has been the 
first to oppose this indiscriminate mode 
of contounding all diseases and remedies. 
His fourth edition of “ A Treatise on the 
| Liver, its Structure, Economy, and Dis- 
euses,”’ contains, in an appendix, “ OF- 
servations on the Hepatitis of India, aud 
on the prevalent Use of Mercury in the 
Diseases of this Country.” Tn this, after 
shewinyg the digerence between the liver 
complaint endemic in India, and the 
diseases of that organ in this country, 
and admitting. the propriety of the earlz 
exhibition of mercury for the former, Dr: 
Saunders remarks : 
‘Jt should also be remembered, that the 
_ liver diséases of this country are, generally 
speaking, much slower in their growth thaw 
‘those of India; and ‘numerous instances 
might be adduced, in which an invalid fa- 
bouring under the more chronic form of 
liver disease, who, by prudent managearent 
and unirritating. medicines (such as dilute 
solutions of saline purgatives, Cheltenham 
water, and the like), might have retained 
for many years ashare of health, amply 
sufficient to render life desirable, had by a 
rash application of so active a remedy as 
mercury, been hurried to his grave in a 
few months.” 
“ Having, I hope (continues Dr. Saun- 
ders), established the point of the ps- 
culiar nature of the East India hepatitis, 
as one argument against the propriety 
of implicitly following the Indian prac-- 
tice, in the acute inflammation ef the 
liver of this country, I shall proceed to 
state the mischievous effects, which a jong 
and extensive experience has taught me to 
apprehend from the use of mercuryin many 
of the other visceral diseases of this coune 
try; especially when attended with general — 
fever, and decided marks of constitutional 
“jrritation. This I am particularly led to 
state, as 1 am convinced that the abuse of 
mercury has extended equally with its use, 
that the administration of this powerful 
remedy 
