660 
-retnedy 18 frequently confided to very un-= 
skilful hands, so that even in the nurserics, 
we now hear of calomel being resorted to 
on all occasions, as a familiar medicine, 
with as little reserve and discrimination as 
tiaghesia or rhubarb. 
““ It ntay be laid down as a pretty general 
Yule, for the guidance of medical practice 
im this country, that any preparation of 
mercury that acts upon the gums, inflames 
the fauces, and produées salivation, is in 
uself injurious in most constitutional dis- 
eases, where febrile excitement is present, 
whether original or symptomatic. 
“This observation will apply equally to 
that hectic fever which is symptomatic of 
external or internal suppuration, and to 
fevets with exacerbations, where there is 
80 obvious local cause, either of disorgani- 
zation, or diseased structure, and more 
especially when the body becomes emaciated 
under profuse and dolfiqhitive discharges. 
The action of mercury to a healthy person 
is that of accelerating the pulse, producing 
buffy blood, or that appearance of it which 
indicates. inflammation, increasing the se+ 
cretions, and giving them a peculiar cha- 
Factcr of what» has usually been termed 
&critiony ; and which, whatever theoreti- 
eal term we adopt, obviously deviates from 
the healthy state, by having a peculiar ten- 
dency to emaciate and weaken the bedy,. 
and even to dispose it to dropsical effiisions. 
‘These being the ordinary effects of mer- 
cury, it must be admitted that its use is pes 
cullarly contra-indicated in these constitu- 
tional diseases, which have a strong ten- 
dency to produce symptoms similar to those 
arising from the mercurial action. On the 
other hand, those habits either of health or 
disease, admit best. the use of mercury 
where there is little general fever, or ten: 
dency to profuse and debilitating diss 
charges.” 
Fhese are of course only a few of the. 
remarks of this ingenious and veteran 
author and physician; they are conti« 
nued with equal spirit and propriety 
through séveral pages, at the conclusion 
ot which we have a long letter from. Mr: 
Paisley, formerly head surzéon at Ma- 
éras, shewing the many inconveniences 
With which mercury is attended, in many 
focal and constitutional diseases in In- 
dia, whilst the writer is ready to admit 
ull the advantages for which the remedy 
is celebrated in the liver disease of that 
country. ‘This letter is éxtracted from 
Bir. Curtis’s Account of the Diseases of 
Todia. ‘The same appendix contains a 
fetter from Dr.Curry, physician to Guy’s 
“Hospital. The writer of this admits 
with his correspondent, that mercury, 
- -~eegenerally speaking, is improperly. admi« 
tiistered in the acute liver diséase of this 
S) 
Retrospéct of Domestic Literature Medicine. 
couhtry; but calomel, though & mercu- 
rial preparation, he coricéives has speci® 
fic properties, by which the bile is 
émulged from the livér, and that orzaa 
is relieved from its accumulated secré- 
tion, whilst, by general antiphlogistic 
remedies, the inflammation is subdued. ° 
This he illustrates by the female breast, 
when turgid from the sécretion of milk ; 
in which ease it is necessary to relievé~ 
the congestion by application to the part, 
and also to correct the disposition to int 
flamimation. Tiiis is confirmed by somé 
other observations, the résult of the au~ 
thor's repeated practice. ni 
A letter from Dr. Duncan follows, on 
the effect of mercury in India. By this 
it appears, that in those -cases~ where 
there is no indication for the use of mer- 
cury, by the necessity of superseding 
other actions, as in hepatitis: and syphi- 
lis; that remedy is pregnant with every 
mischief: so much more dangerous, in? 
deed, under certain circumstances, that 
Dr. Dunean does not scruple to consider 
the advances of syphilis as infinitely less 
serious than the ill-timed exhibition. of 
mercury. Bi 
Whether in consequence of the above 
we pretend not to say, but scon after it, 
appeared from the pen of Dr: Curry, 
& An Extinmnation of the Prejudices cons 
monly entertained against “Mercury at 
beneficiitly epplicuble to most Hepatie 
Compleiats, and to varios other forms 
of Disease, as éell as to Syphilis”? In- 
this pamphlet there is an ait, if not of 
pettichness, ‘at least of something of the 
kind. The title contains the motto, 
“ Andi alteram partem,” as if the author 
had been unfairly dealt with; and an - 
advertisement toiluws, very much im the 
same style. cella 
“‘ Most of those for whose perusal this 
pamphlet. is intended, will probably know, 
that T have been for some time pledged te 
the publication of 2 Treatise On the Nuturé 
of the Hepatic Function; the Purpases it serves 
in the Animal Ocvconomy; and the porverful In- 
fluence which a disordered state of if exerts, in — 
Exciting, Ageravating, and Modifying variovs 
Form: of Disease, both General and Local. tn 
addition to professional avocations, ill 
health has contributed not a little to pre= 
vent mé from completing the task; bur 
should Providence spare me a little longer, 
Istill hold myself engaged to pérform th 
undertaking; a great part of which, a 
some of my medical friends have had the 
= 
Opportunity of knowing, is now in consi+ 
derable forwardnéss. In thé ‘meart time; 
public opinion, which i¢ seldom long sta: 
tionary, has regeived an impulse sana 
y 
