806

nature. The three substances, thus pre-pared, but especially the two former, werefound to be very powerful poisons fifteengrains of them injected into the stomach ofa large dog, caused a violent inflammationof the intestinal canal, and the subsequentdeath of the animal.

’

Dr. Westrumb regards the deleterious

principle in the cheese as belonging to theclass of narcotico-acrid poisons, and attri-butes its production to the following’ causes:

,

1. The milk being furnished by cows,which have eaten of poisonous vegetables ;this will, however, be but very seldom thecause, as, under these circumstances, thesecretion of milk is greatly diminished, oreven entirely suspended.

2. The preparation or conservation ofthe cheese in metallic vessels. in somecases of poisoning by cheese, traces of

copper and tin were actually discovered init, although but in very smail quantities.The Gazette de Sante, of 1?66, No. 22,contains a case of this kind.

3. Adulteration of the cheese, especiallywith the seeds of hvosciamus, which hadinadvertently been mixed with it, insteadof cumin seeds.

4. The formation of a poisonous sub-stance by the chemical decomposition of thecheese. This seems to have take place inmost instances, and, as is shown by II1. Ser-tuerner’s analvsis, d;d so in those just de-scribed.—Horn’s 4) chit,.

THIRD CASE OF CHOREA,

Communicated by a Medical Friend to Dr. HAR-RISON, and by him to THE LANCET.

IT was on the 2d of January, 1815, that Iwas first spoken to for the young lady,whose case I now send to you. She wasthen thirteen years old ; and here I maymention, that it was not till more thanthree years afterwards, that the menses firstappeared, and then without any particularcircumstance. The symptoms of chorea hadthen been noticed for a fortnight, and theywere so slight, that though I was attendingher sister at the time, it had not been

thought necessary to mention them to me.Indeed they were still comparatively slight,affecting chiefly the left arm. It appeared,too, she had had very desultory motions inboth arms some years before, which hadended in nothing serious. She was at thistime getting one of her lower moIares;which I was led to remark, because tlie lateDr. Monxo used to reckon the getting of thesecond set of teeth among’ the excitingcauses of chorea. In the present instance,

however, I was not able to trace the con-nexion.At first, I was disposed to trust to purga-

lives alone, from the free exhibition of which,in chorea, as well as in several other spas-modic affections, I had repeatedly ivit-nessed the best effects. But, in tile presentcase, though it was found necessary to be.

giving moderate doses almost daily, and

though their operation was frequently fol-lowed by a marked remission, yet I mustadd, that in no stage-could I perceive eitherindication or encouragement to push themto any thing like the extent which Dr.Hamilton recommends, and which I had

myself found so beneficial on former occa-sions. In fact, it soon became evident, thatthe cause was deeper seated, and the pro-gress was rapid. So early as the.Sth, men-tion Is-made of the conjunctiva of both eyes,but especially the left, being suffiised withsome puriform secretion, but no inflamma-tion, or soreness, and the agitations verygreat, affecting the whole frame.

In this stage, recourse was had to leechesseveral times. Once she was bled to sixounces, and all with good efi-ect. But theseason when it would have appeared justi.

fiable. to be taking blood in any mode, soonpassed away; and for about three weeks, thechief dependence was on a succession ofblisters, applied, for the most part, to thehead and iieck but once or twice to thearms and legs, though certainly with less

apparent benefit in the two latter situations.Although this sort of practice was repeat-

edly followed by a striking temporary effect;for instance, on the 10th, the agitationswere excessive, and she could not speak; butafter leeches, and a purge, and a blister tothe head, she had abetter night, and couldspeak, and remained considerably better allthe next day. Nevertheless it was evidentthat the disease was fast gaining ground.On the 14th, it required two persons to pre-vent her being tossed out of bed in the night.From this time it became necessary to haveher constantly secured by straps. Still itis added that the pupils contracted and di-lated naturally. On the 16th, a worse nightthan ever, with moaning and grinding ofteeth. Pupils considerably dilated, but cantell the hour by my watch, though she canhardly articulate.

’

A t this period, for about a week, it seemedas if the symptoms were kept in check, oreven giving way. She was more composed,and cou’td speak better; but, in realty, no-thing was gained.

24. Asleep now ; skin very cold, but dry.Has complained of coldness, and has vo-mited. Had two stools in the night, with.out being conscious of them, but was quitesensible before falling asleep. Wine wheywas ordered. The warmth was restored

807

without dimculty. For a few days she wasmuch as usual again, only it seemed as ifthe vital powers were declining, while the 4disorder was more and more firmly fixed. I.

17. Grinds her teeth very much. Sel-dom attempts to speak.

18. Very fretful ; does not give noticewhen she passes her urine.

29. Agitations stronger, and more unin-terrupted. Does not give notice of eitherstools or urine, and can scarcely express anyword. Very little sleep ; still takes foodwell.

30. Very restless night, with loud moan-ing. It is difficult to give her food, her

tongue being drawn to the top of her mouth.Appetite seems to be good.

N.B. The silver spoon used in feeding herwas literally full of the impressions of herteeth. Indeed, to such a wretched state wasthe poor sufferer now reduced, with everymuscle of the face and limbs in a state ofalmost constant catching, and with eyes thatseemed nearly tu have lost all aniiiiatioii,very much emaciated, and necessarily strap-ped down to a couch, yet still in some de-gree sensible of her own misery ; that I be-lieve there was not one of those about her,who would not have been thankful to seeher released. But a crisis was at hand, suchas none of us durst have looked for.

31. Spoke intelligibly in the night, de-siring to be moved into bed, which wasdone, slept two hours, and was able to take

- a basin of boiled milk, and bread, this morn-ing. Much inflammation on the sacrum, withexcoriation. This last symptom had been ob-served for some days, but it was regardedand treated simply as a consequence of theviolent agitations, and of her having latelypassed all her evacuations under her. I

expected it would end in sphacelus, if shewere not cariied off by the original affec-tion, nor could I for the next two days seeany encouragement to hope otherwise.

Feb. 1. More feeble; a very bad night;has taken but little food; belly open.N.B. This is the first time that the appe-tite had failed.

About two hours’ sleep ; very restless atother times. Two large stools, no way le-markable. Blister on head open. It wasnow that I prescribed half-grain doses ofopium, the effects of whtoh then appearedto be particularly beneficial ; and as theyhappeiaed to be timed, probably it was so. Itwill be seen, that after the first dose, the pa-tient slept eight hours. But then the dispo-sition to sleep had manifested itself before.Again, the report of the 31st must not beoverlooked; and the eveats of the fcllow-ing days lead me to ascribe much more toNature, and less to any sort of means, than Idid at the time; ; however, the following

extract from my notes must speak for them.selves.

. 3. Began to dose yesterday evening! about six, and slept till eight. Took the:jirst dose of opium on awaking, and slepttill four, but considerable uneasiness’ tillbetween two and three, Took a seconddose at four, lay restless till six, and thenslept till eight, but rather uneasily. Speaksbetter this morning, and takes food well.On pressing the inflamed patt, pus camefrom one of the ulcerated spots in consider-able quantity. Pergat.

4. Did not sieep so well, but speakswith less elfult, and is, at present, lyingnearly free from agitation.

5. Much better. Asleep at this time,and in bed, without any restraint. Catch-

ings nearly gone from face. Was able to sit,with support, for an hotir to-day. Very copi-ous discharge frotu abscess on sacrum.

N. B. The quantity of opium for the twolast nights is not stated ; probably it wastwo half-grains each night.

6. A very good night, from a singlehalf-grain. Is at present supported, and

listening attentively to her sister, who readsto her.7. Not so good a night, though she tooktwo doses of opium. The matter appears to

come from a great depth. ‘

10. No sleep till three, P.M. Tookthree half-grain doses. The agitation andcatchings have not been so well since the dis-charge was less.

11. Slept till midnight without opium,then took a grain, and slept till morning.Speaks much better, and in connected sen-tences. Was able to work a sum in com-

pound addition yesterday, her sister settingdown the figures. Tumour on sacrum muchsubsided. Discharge appears to come froma considerable depth.

12. Is lying on the bed quietly, with-out being tied ; speaks whole sentencesalmost as well as ever.

14. Speaks much better, but cannot puther tongue out.

17. A good night. No opium for twonights.

20. Can now nearly put her tongue out.Quite free from catchings, and can laise herhand to her head.

22. Is now so tranquil, that she can beleft alone in the room on the couch, withoutbeing tied. Gains flesh apace.

24. Can use a needle a little.25. Has walked across the room to-daywithout support for the first time, butawkwardly. Is now sitting in an easy chairwithout other support.

26. Is sitting up reading, quite erect,without any support. Walks surprisinglybetter*

808

28. Is sitting up setrirra. Can walk fromone room to another without help.

March 2. Is sitting at dinner, using aknife and fork.Here end my notes of this interesting

.case for that time. She had several subse-quent attacks, or rather threatenirtgs, whichit may be proper briefly to notice. Shecontinued so well, that after Christmas shewent. to a boarding-school in the country ;she remained there till the midsummervacation ; but about a week before cominghome, which was more than fifteen monthsafter the termination of my former attend-ance, she had some return of catchings,chietiy in the left side. This attack proved !rather protracted than severe. There is a

slight mention of it in October, nor had she ever been quite free from it in the mean-time, but I know not that she was ever Irwholly confined by it. It was more likechorea, as it commonly occurs. She fre-

quently walked in the garden, and once wasat the play ; but sometimes the agitationswere rather severe, and her speech was agood deal affected in an evening’. She was

apt to get up in the night, appearing not tobe quite collected ; her temper also wasirritable. There is mention more than onceof her eyes being bloodshot.

She went .to the same school again inJanuary, 1817, where I visited her inMarch, and found her with headach at(times, and face rather flushed, but quitefree from chorea. She had, however, a slightthreatening of it in April, after which she (remained so well, that though she camehome at midsummer, I had not once occa-sion to prescribe for her, and she returnedto school after the vacation. In October,she had another slight threatening. In thecourse of the following month I was againcalled to her, and the complaint had taken a Idifferent turn.

November 13. Pain in the region of theheart, of a week’s standing; soreness on Ipressure ; ringing in left ear; aching in leftarm. Here I may remark, that there is, inthis family, a peculiar proneness to affectionof the heart, pericardium, and great vessels,more or less acute, in two instances alter- 4nating with rheumatism. In the presentinstance, however, the symptoms speedilygave way, and, on the 20th, she had no’complaint. I.

Only four days afterwards, catchings areagain noticed, and this proved one of themost obstinate attacks, though never very! Isevere. It resembled a good deal that of!the last year, only that along with the agi-tation, I think there is, for about a month orsix weeks, more frequent mention of head-acll, heat, and beating in the occiput.December 19. Eyes are always blood-

shot, when the blister is closed. By de-

grees, however, these indications appearedto be changed.

In the beginning of January, 1818, inconsideration of the menses not having ap.peared, electrical sparks and slight shocksthrough the pelvis were directed, and con-tinued on alternate days for more than amonth, with no good effect.

February 13. Complaint has much in-creased. Liquor arsenical. min. v. ter in-.dies. She took this two and three times

daily for six weeks, with manifest goodeffect; but then a cough came on, and itwas discontinued. °

March 28. It is noticed still a little

cough, catchings very slight. Has becomemuch more free from them, on the whole,! since she took the arsenic. None taken fora week.

From about this time, owing, in part, tomy attention having been painfully directedto other cases in the family, and also to herbeing generally able to go about the house,and even to amuse herself by playing onthe pianoforte, and to walk out occasionally,I have preserved very few more minutes ofthis case.

May 18. Menses appeared two days ago,for the first time.December 29, 1819. Was not so well

without the arsenic. Has returned to it

again.February, 1320. Took carbonate of iron with

seeming advantage, and, in the samp monttt,had a boil upon one of the lower dorsal ver-tebræ. Chorea seemed better after it broke.

Of late, I have seldcm seen my youngfriend, and possibly she may still, at times,have some little of the catchings. When-ever I have made inquiries, she has told meshe was quite well, and, indeed, she is bymuch the stoutest of the four survivingsisters.

August 15, 28W. I have this day seenMiss A. Her sister told me the family hadthought they perceived some slight appear-ance of catching a little while ago, but shespoke doubtingly, and Miss A. said she hadremained quite well ; she certainly is in

very good health at present.4 N. B. I have since learned that she has

lately discontinued an issue, which was set

in her right arm upwards of six years ago.Respecting the practice in these laterattacks, I have little to add to what is above

stated. Leeches, cuppings, and blisters,! often gave very decided relief. Purgatives,I too, seemed to be more particularly called! for than on the former occasions. 01.terebin thin. argent. nitras, and fcrri carbo-nas, were given atdifi’erent times, but with-out any visible benefit. Caustics and setonswere often mentioned, but there were ob-jections, or a blister had been applied on thevery spot; or while they were in contem-

809

plation-, she happ&Bed to get well without!:them. It has, however, been stated, that,she had an issue in the arm, and -1 do notfind any mention of the eyes being bloodshot,from the time that it was set. Indeed, uponDr. Jenner’s principle of derivation, upon ;which he cured even insanity, by rubbingunguent. antimonii tartarizat. on the arm,!possibly an issue in the arm might answer ias well as one in the neck. If it were notforeign from my present purpose, I could!quote a remarkable instance, where thisexcellent practice cured a patient of myown, of a very painful and obscure visceralcomplaint, by an issue above each knee.confess, however, my own views would!have led me to prefer a setor. or issue in the i,neck. And if the case were to come over

again, I think I should insist most stronglyupon it. But at present, my object is notso much to vindicate the practice, as to givea correct statement of facts.—N. B. I ought’to have mentioned, in its proper place, thata blister applied to the sacrum produced nogood effect. I.

23d Oct. Had a slight attack of hæmate-mesis, preceded by syncope. Her sisters

thought she had been subject to catchingsfcr some time before the hæmorrhage. She (was quite free at my visit, and had no returnduring my attendance.

February, 1824. Menses return once afortnight. She looks pale.. 15 quite freefrom the catching’s.

i8th Dec., 18’M. 1 found my old patientvery well yesterday, nor has she had anycatchings, or other symptoms of chorea,since my last report.

REMARKS BY Dri. HARRISON.

The candid narrative of the ingenuouswriter furnishes, I think, abundant proofsof the real source of this distressing ma-lady. The attendances commenced on the2d of January, 1815. The voung suffererhad for a fortnight been slightly afflictedwith chorea. It kept increasing from thethird visit to the fourteenth. Her afflictionswere then so distressing, that it had becomenecessary to confine her to the bed withligatures. The violence of the disease con-tinued to the end of the month, when itsuffered an abatement which, as the writerjustly observes, no one could have antici-

pated. She spoke intelligibly in the nightof January 31, desiring to be moved intobed, afterwards she slept two hours. Thenext morning, she was able to take " a basonof boiled milk, and bread." We must notomit to mention, in this place, that iiiflain . ’,mation had been observed for sonae days, onthe sacrum. It had increased during thelast night, and was already accompanied withexcoriation. " expected its termination,

! in sphacelus. For two days, I could see noencouragement to hope, though she was cer-

! tainly easier, and slept better." The follow-ing morning, viz. February 3d, her sufferingswere considerably relieved, and for the firsttime, on pressing the inflamed spot,;, puscame out of one of them, in considerablequantity. The medical attendant notices,a very copious discharge from the abscesson;the 5th." He stated, two days after-

wards, ’ the matter appears to come from agreat depth." On the 10th, the agitationsand catchings have been more severe, " sincethe discharge was less." On the 14th, hesays, "tumour on sacrum much subsided."

Ratio symptomatum.—We are led to be-

lieve, that suppurative inflammation withinthe lumbar, or sacral canal, was the excitingcause of the painful and diversified symp-toms enumerated in this remarkable case,because the enclosed pus had scarcely beganto escape, before the choroid symptoms suf-fered a perceptible diminution, and after thedischarge had continued only a few days,they wholly disappeared, leaving’ the patientcomparatively easy and cheerful. It is

worthy of remark, that on one particularday, the disch31 ge being lessened, the agi·tations and catchings were more severe-aproof of some hidden connexion subsistingbetween the chorea and interior of thetheca.We shall, I think, be able to explain thephenomena which manifested themselves

on this occasion, by pursuing the anatomicaldistribution of the spinal nerves, from theircommencement in the back to their ultimateramifications. The voluntary muscles de-rive all their nervous energy from the spinalmarrow, and the involuntary are chieflysupplied f)0fn the same fountain.* Irrita-

tion affecting any portion of this delicatesubstance are occasionally propagated fromit to every other. The nerves proeeedingfrom thence, carry the impressions’ along’their subdivisions, and agitate the muscularstructure, in which they terminate. Thechorea was, I think, excited in the arms

through the axillary plexuses, and in the

lower extremities, by means of the crmalnerves. The same reasoning’ will explainthe other phenomena, under which this

patient suffered. One of the symptomswas a puriform secretion, with suffusion inboth eyes. Afterwards the pupils were

considerably dilated. Still she could tellthe hour by a watch. In subsequent attacks,mention is made more than once, of her eyesbeing bloodshot. The same symptom is

again noticed in the report for December,1817.One of the complaints afflicting Miss

* See Dr. Harrison’s Essav on SpinalDiseases, &c.

810

Porch, whose case is already described, wasinflammation of the opaque cornea. Thoughshe had frequent returns, while walkingabout, the horizontal position was scarcely Icommenced before the ophthalmia left her ;and though several years have intervenedsince her restoration to good health, it hasnever returned. ’

In another patient, with a large gibbositybetween the shoulders, the eves had beena source of uneasiness for several years.The sight was always weak. The eyeswere often inflamed, and the palpebræ gene-rally became glaed together in her sleep.This young lady found her vision improveas the distortion abated. The inflammationalso left her during the treatment, and thepalpebræ no longer cohered.

I have already explained the nervous

communication between some parts of theeyes and the spine. In order to account forthe symptoms just enumerated, we musttake into account that the eyes are suppliedfrom different sources. One portion of theophthalmic branch of the fifth pair uniteswith a ramification of the third, to form theophthalmic ganglion. Numerous fibrils,called citiary, issuing from it, run to theeyeball. Having pierced the sclerotic coat,they creep along between it and the choroid,to supply the ii-is. Other branches of thesame nerve proceed to the palpebræ, tunicaconjunctiva, and lachrymal gland. Henceit follows that, inasmuch as a direct inter-course subsists between the spinal nervesand the fifth pair, also mediately throughthe great sympathetic, the subacious glandswill be disordered in their secretions, thetunica conjunctiva will also, occasionally,inflame and suppurate, in spinal maladies." On the 16th, the pupils were consider-

ably dilated, but she can tell the hour bymy watch." Such is the complicate struc-ture, and so various are the uses, of the eyes,that no fewer than five pairs of nerves aredistributed upon this cuiious organ ; eachis endowed with its peculiar office ; that ofvision is performed by the second or opticnerves. As the si;ht was little impaired, Iconclude that branch of nerves did not

suffer in any considerable degree. Indeed,such an exemption might have been antici-pated, because these nerves have no ana-tomical connexion with tha spine, or greatsympathetic. Not so the iris; it is furnish-ed from the fifth pair, and therefore, whenthat becomes affected, the pupils are liable,from that cause alone, to be pretematurallyexpanded or contracted.

During the paroxysms of pain she gratedher teetii, and gnashed them together, withforce enough "to indent the silver spoonused in feeding her." As the jaws andteeth are supplied from other divisiong ofthe fifth pair of nerves, the remarks for’’

mer1y made in regard to the eyes will applyequally to these latter symptoms.The writer adds to this melancholy train

of symptoms, 11 every muscle of her facewas in a state of almost constant catching."

So extensive were her sufferings, that allthe voluntary muscles were subjected to theuncontrollable influence of a powerful ex..citation.

Besides the parts of the face already men.tioned. it is supplied with nerves from the5th and 7th pairs. Having’ spoken of theformer, we need not enlarge upon the de.tails. A branch of the latter, called pesanserinus, or nerve of expression, anas-

tamoses freely with the spinal nerves inthe neck, and under the jaw; it is throughthis branch that the countenance suffers so

distressingly in spinal complaints. Personsfamiliar with these deformities have little

difficulty in ascertaining their presence, orin judging pretty correctly of their magni-tude, by merely seeing the visage.

In early life I accidentally met with ayoung lady, who had a considerable gibbo-sity between her shoulders. Burke’s clii-

valrous description of the unfortunate con-sort of Louis the Sixteenth was strictlyapplicable to what I beheld. "it is nowsixteen or seventeen years," he observes,*" since I saw the Queen of France, thenthe dauphiness, at Versailles, and surelynever lighted on this orb, which she hardlyseemed to touch, a more delightful vision.I saw her just above the horizon, decorat-

ing and cheering the elevated sphere shejust began to move in, glittering like themorning-star, full of life, and splendour, andjoy. Oh! what a revolution ! and what aheart must I have to contemplate, withoutemotion, that elevation and that fall."

More than twenty years passed awaybefore my second interview. Never can I

forget the changes which disease had

wrought in this fascinating beauty. Notonly were the lilies and roses faded, theeyes had lost their lustre, and the, face,which beamed with animation and enchant-ment, was become languid, contracted, andfurrowed. The clear and bright tints ofher complexion had been exchanged for adull and muddy hue. She was moreover

feeble, and almost worn out, at the earlyage of forty. This is by no means a solitaryinstance of the kind. These premature spo-liations are of frequent occurrence amongthe fair sex. and have been often noticed."30. Difficulty in giving food, the tongue

being drawn to the roof of the mouth." Itis alleged, in the report for Feb. 14th, that"she cannot put her tongue out of her

mouth." This organ, so useful in modulat-

* Burke’s Rejections on the Revolutionin France.

811

ing sounds, and in deglutition, is supplied Iwith its nerves from the 5th, the 8th, and9th pairs. These several nerves, beingeach of them joined anatomically to the

spinal nerves and great sympathetic, weremade to accord, and to participate withthem, on the present occasion.

29. " Stoo!s and urine involuntary, and

unconsciously discharged." The close con-nexion subsisting between the bladder, rec-tum, and spine, has been already explained.*Sometimes distortion of the loins occasionsonly deterioration in the faecal and minarysecretions, but I have known it produce theentire loss of feeling, and of the expuisivefaculty in both. Examples will hereafterbe given of this most calamitous failure inthese fonctions, and of their perfect resto-ration, by rectifying the spinal column.

WESTMINSTER MEDICAL SOCIETY.

Saturday, March 14, 1829.

Dr. SOMERVILLE in the Chair.

RESIDENCE IN A TAN YARD, AN ALLEGED

REMEDY FOR PULMONARY CONSUMPTION.

Dr. DoDD read his promised paper on theexemption of tanners from phthisis pulmon-alis, and the efficacy of the aroma of oakbark in the cure of that complaint, It statedthat his attention had for some time beendirected to this subject, which he believedwas, in great measure, new to the profession,though, vulgarly,, the business of tanner hadlong been regarded as particularly healthy.The result of his inquiries was, that tannersenjoyed a peculiar freedom from consump-tion, and that this exemption was to betraced to the nature of their calling. The

following circumstance had first drawn hisattention to the subject. He had had a

patient, a-weaver, twenty-five years of age,who was suffering under all the symptoms ofphthisis pulmonalis; symptoms which wereso marked, that lie only thought of miti-gating them, not cunng the complaint.He treated him accordingly, but at theend of three weeks the mall suddenlyquitted his residence, and went he knew notwhere. twelve months after, he met withhim again, and then found he had become atanner, because, as the man said, " Tannerswere never affected with consumption." Tothe truth of this the man’s appearance boreconsiderable testimony, for instead of a con-sumptive patient, he was then a strong,stout,healthy man. This case produced a consicle-rable impression on his (Dr. Dodd’s) mind,

See Dr. Harrison’s Essay, &c., Case 9.

and after weighing the importance of thefacts, he proceeded to institute the followinginquiries. First. Are tanners more exemptfrom consumption than other men? Secondly.To what cause is such an exemption to betraced? Thirdly. Can this cause be extend-ed, as a remedy, to all consumptive patients ?The answer at which he had arrived to thefirst inquiry was affirmative ; for after mostextensive observations of his own, aided bythe concurring testimony of others, wellquaiified to furnish him with facts, he hadnot discovered one unequivocal instance ofthe death of a tanner from pulmonary con-sumption. As Bermondsey employed thelargest number of tanners in the. kingdom,his chief inquiries had been directed to thatplace. The testimony of Mr. Steney, a resi.dent practitioner, was, that for thirty yearshe could not remember a death from thiscause among the tanners ; nor could Mr.Castle, during a practice of twenty-threeyears. Neither did the hospitals afford asingle case. The tanners themselves said,the disease never occurred amongst them.There were about seven hundred tanners atBermondsey; of these, perhaps, five in

every hundred died annually, and, accordingto the usual calculations, three out of thesefive might be expected to die of phthisis

pulmonalis. In Mr. Steney’s practice thatwould have given him ninety deaths of thiscomplaint ; yet not one of the medical menknew of a case. He (Dr. D.) was persuadedthe same held good in other places. He hadmet but with three instances to the contrary ;one in Scotland, one in London, and one inDevonshire; and each of these was compli-cated with other diseases.

Dr. Dodd then proceeded to show that the! families of tanuers, especially the females,were not equally favoured,-that those wholived in the neighbourhood of tan yardswere remarkably free from consumption,-that tanners being taken from the lowerranks, were as liable to disease as other

operatives,—that their exemption from con-sumption existed in spite of the low, dampsituation and exposure of tan yards,-andthat their moral habits and mode of livingwere on a par with those of other men. Asto the immediate cause of this exemption, hethought it was the aroma which arose fromthe bark, which aroma appeared to him tobe a compound substance, of a pungent, acidnature, possessing antiseptic properties,with a tendency to heal pulmonary tubercles,and fortify the lungs against disease.But the most important part of the subject,Dr. Dodd thought, was the possible, artifi-cial employment of this aroma for the cureof phthisis pulmonalis ; and he had accord-ingly contrived an apparatus for communi-cating it to the lungs. It consisted of a cask with a close cover, having bellows beneath,