1809. ] " 
sonable dejection. 
deg the dreadful prospeet, of an approach- 
ing paroxysm of asthma, should not be 
chearful, or even be composed. Asthma- 
tics are often, perhaps more generally 
than others, men of mind and of raanly 
energies.’ But there are feelings of pain 
which must vet the better, for a time, 
of the sturdiest fortitude, anaine tan 
can be blamed for_not. enduring with 
tranquillity sufferings which are. almost 
beyond the limit-of human toleration.* 
Bleeding, or the vein-evacuating sys- 
tem, as being too indiscriminate and pro- 
fuse, the Reporter has frequently had: 
éeension to reprobate; by the energy and 
decision of his remarks he has incurred 
some reproach, although not that of his 
own conscience, «Livery new day throws 
new light, and’gives an additional flash of 
conviction upun the subject. Among the 
asthmatics more especially, any detrac- 
tion of blood is inevitably followed by a 
diminution of strength, and too frequent- 
ly by an entire dissolution of the faculties 
of vitality. This remark peculiarly ap- 
plies to those who are far gone in life. 
‘Lo tap the sanguiferous system when the: 
cask is well nigh exhausted, is a cruel 
and wasteful expenditure. of that which 
is necessary to support even a feeble per-' 
petuity of existence: Dr. Flower, who 
has covicentrated in his little treatise dle 
most all that can be usefully said-on the 
subject of asthma, more than a hundred 
years ago, gave an opinion which harmo- 
nizes with and of course confirms my own. 
“« Bleeding,” he says, ‘‘ though never so 
oft repeated, will not cure the asthmatic, 
but a little for the present relieve the 
straitness. and. suffocation. It is agree. 
able to young persons, but very prejudi- 
cial to old habituated asthmas, who at 
present are not much relieved thereby, 
but after some time they become ca- 
chectic.” + j ; 
a Se Me aes WY Da al se ii lea 
* An anonymous -note lately received, 
though by no means unfriendly or ey te 
some, animadverted upon my last Report,” 
which. stated some facts with regard to an 
asthmatic patient that applied to him | for 
relief. But it should be announced and un- 
derstood, that what was communicated con- 
cerning this individual, was not without his 
express, permission, SNS the Reporter i is -in 
the habit of requesting from his patient, be~ 
fore he notices to the public any private com~- 
munications. 
+ Lreatise of the Asthma, by John Flower, 
M; D. p. 108. 
Mon tary Mac, No. 181. me 
noinw 
Report of Diseases? 
How can we wonder - 
. that one under the actual agonies, or un-. 
cand substantial epicurism. 
Cachecties, native or artificially manus 
factured debilities of the constitution, 
although they hold no specific. rank in a 
medical nomenclature, occupy the largest 
space in the field of a physician’s profes- 
sional observation. Diseases’ that have 
acquired no name, and are incapable of. 
any precise ‘or discriminating definition, 
constitute the majority in the melancholy 
group of inaladies, 
Dropsy, alas! has fallen in several in. 
stances under the Keporter’s care within 
the last few weeks. Dropsy is nearly 
allied to despair, and may be considered 
as the last step before the: threshold of 
death. 
In’ the‘ presence’ of the Reporter, a 
plebeian, illiterate patient of this class, 
conscious” “OF his. vicinity to the grave, 
breathed - a confession, that he was 
ashamed’ of feeling “so° much attached: 
to this last rag of life.” t 
Distempers of every, and more remark. 
ably of this kind, originate in a great 
measure froin excess in the luxuries of. 
cating or Cfdrinking, and perhaps qaite 
as frequently from the forier.as, from. 
the latter. he former is the most. fre-. 
quent cause of abrupt dissolution, but 
they are: both rival candidates for exe= 
cuting the rapid and premature destrucs: 
tion of the human frame. Hippocrates,. 
one of our venetable fathers in medicine, 
tells us, that “ he who eats’ and: drinks’ 
little will have no“disease.” This axiom’ 
perhaps contains in itself more of the’ 
rashness of youth than the reason of age. . 
But at any tate it must be confessed that 
inordinate gratification of every, species - 
must. be followed by. grievous calamity, , 
and that to the inhabitants at least, of: 
this island, the fluid. incentives, to, exhi-. 
lavation“is more dangerous than: the efe, 
fects which may arise fram amore solid 
Wine is pere* 
haps more corrosive in its operation, and! 
more perilous in its ultimate consequence, | 
than atiy other superabundance of diete=" : 
tical oppressign. 
Alebohol is bad aliment; and the more 
fearful diseases arise froin. spirituous exs | 
cess. Dropsy, hypechondriasis, asthma, - 
paralysis, ane asthenia, are all members> 
ft It is a remarkable coincidence, that Lord 
Ortord, that petit-maitre in literature, has; 
in some part of his fashionable works, made 
use ‘of an €Xpressidn’ almust verbatim the ‘ 
same sas‘that which was employed by our’ 
‘ ynlettered, and im every intellectual way un=’ 
informed-and uncultivated ;: peer be BOB OS 
me “of, 
Maa 4s 
