gena, directing the physicians of that place to administer no other medicine to the sick than the opiate of Don Joseph Masdeval-subjecting them to the Intendant of the Dock-yardand commanding them to prescribe according to his instructions. The physicians, after some fruitless expostulations, found themselves compelled to obey; but the people were more refractory, and treated the royal mandate with such disrespect, that rather than submit to the prescription of the opiate, they actually refused to send for any medical assistance whatever. At length, the Court, finding that the physicians were starving, while the citizens continued to die in great numbers, agreed to compromise the matter, by confining the operation of the obnoxious edict to the Royal Hospital*. Yet we are told, that the Bill" has been most favourably received by the faculty+." By what part of the faculty, I would ask, has it been thus favourably received?" On a point of such magnitude why not give the names? My opportunities of learning the sentiments of my brethren are probably as great as those which Dr. Harrison enjoys; and yet, upon no occasion I when his plan has been the subject of discussion, have I heard a single voice raised in its praise. None of the Reviews have had the complaisance to applaud it; and the Colleges who were applied to by the Secretary of State for their sentiments on the subject, are, as I have access to know, unanimous in its condemnation, On the whole, I must give it as my opinion that if the former scheme of the Association was futile, their present one is downright absurd, or, rather that it is calculated to extend the mischiefs it was intended to remedy; that there is scarcely any one irregularity in medical practice which would not find a fostering provision in its enactments, and that there is not one excrescence of the profession which it would deaden or destroy. I have examined it in all its parts with the most scrupulous attention; 1 have viewed it in its probable consequences; I can perceive nothing in it but the seeds of disorder and confusion; and till I read the pamphlet in which it is detailed, I could not have believed that after the many facilities which had been afforded to the views of the reformers, after the ample discussion which their measures had undergone, and after the many useful hints which had been furnished them, I could not have believed that it was possible for any set of men so circumstanced to have toiled so long and to have done so little; to have conceived with such mighty efforts, and to have produced nothing but a miserable abortion. * Townsend's Journey through Spain, Vol. III. page 137-142. +Harrison's Address. Before Before I conclude, allow me to request H. R. to explain the data on which he grounds his very singular calculation, curtailing the "aggregate lives" of the medical men of the United Kingdom to "seven years' purchase" and killing them off at the rate of 2000 a year. Though, perhaps, but few of the votaries of Esculapius now reach a Hippocratic old age, yet a considerable proportion of them contrive, I believe, to spin out their existence to ten times seven years, if not to the advantage of their patients, at least to the manifest annoyance and mortification of their more youthful competitors. I remain, Gentlemen, London, May 13. Your most obedient Servant, A. H. To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal. GENTLEMEN, IN my letter, inserted in a former number of your Journal, containing a valuable and interesting communication from Mr. Park, on the state of vaccination at Liverpool, my signature was omitted by mistake. This would not be material, did I not consider myself responsible for the accuracy of the statement, in the concluding part of that letter. I now request the favour of you to insert a few miscellaneous observations on some topical remedies, which I have found beneficial; and which deserve to be more generally known. Styptics. The most powerful styptic that I have ever used, is powder of charcoal. Having seen the remains of a small box of a black powder brought from Flanders, which was sold at a high price, and reputed to be possessed of extraordinary properties as a styptic, I suspected it to be charcoal; and had some charcoal powdered, which, on trial, proved equal, if not superior, to the original. In bleedings of the nose, it may be applied by means of tents, first moistened with water, and then dipped in this powder; but in slight cases it has answered, by being taken like snuff. In other cases it is to be sprinkled on the part affected`; and retained there by means of a compress. On Ophthalmia and Psorophthalmia. The advantage of metallic oxyds, particularly that of mercury, in obstinate cases of this kind, is well ascertained. The ung. hydrarg. nitratis is a good preparation in skilful hands, when cautiously cautiously applied, either with the finger or a camel hair pencil; but it is too strong for popular use. The following, which is much milder, has proved so efficacious, and given such general satisfaction, that I deem it an indispensable duty to make it public. R. Hydrarg. nitrico-oxydi. gr. xv. butyri. 3j. M. The edges of the eyelids should be anointed with this ointment every night; or every night and morning. On the Facus. I several years ago published in this Journal, some remarks on the treatment of tinea, the common effect of favus when it takes place on the scalp; I now beg leave to add, that when this eruption occurs in the face, where it is the common effect of a cold, nothing has appeared to be more efficacious than the ung. picis liquida; but a certain degree of caution is necessary in its use; otherwise it will prove too stimulating. On Excoriations behind the Ears. The following is the best remedy that I have ever found for this complaint. R. Plumbi superacet. j. adipis præpar. 3j. M. This is to be spread on lint. The disorder often extends over the ears; but is easily cured by this application. The sores must not be washed. On Herpetic eruptions. The best remedies for these eruptions are ointments prepared from hydrarg. præcip. alb. with a small quantity of hydrarg, oxymur. and lard. The ung. zinci has also been found serviceable in such eruptions; particularly in those of the hands, or other irritable parts. A lotion similar to the nostrum, sold under the name of Gowlard's lotion, has cured some herpetic eruptions, which were so troublesome as to render life intolerable. It is as follows:-R. Amygd. amar. decort. ziij. tere in mortario marmoreo cum aquæ. viij. et adde hydrarg. oxymur. gr. viij. in spiritûs rosmarini. zij. priùs solutæ. Fiat lotio. Oleum Ricini. This important article of the Materia Medica is much improved by filtering; and it is of some consequence to ascertain the best mode of exhibiting it, particularly in delicate stomachs. I have found it most convenient to give it in sugar and water. A little moist 'sugar should first be dissolved in tepid water, in a tea-cup; and stirred with the spoon in which the oil is to be measured. By this method the oil is prevented from sticking to the the tea-cup, or the spoon; and not only the dose will be more exact; but it will float loosely on the surface of the vehicle, and be more easily taken. I have almost always found this the best aperient for puerperal patients; many of whom had in vain tried to take the oil in other forms. I cannot conclude without observing, that this department of physic stands in need of reform. An aperient should always be given within forty-eight hours after delivery, unless the patient has had a stool. It is proper to direct it on the morning of the third day inclusively. A table-spoonful of the castor oil is in general sufficient; and ought not to be repeated in less than twenty-four hours, lest it should operate too much. If occasion requires, its operation should be promoted by a clyster. I have frequently heard, and heard with great concern, of cases in which women have been suffered to remain without a stool, and even without an attempt to procure one, six or seven days. This gross and shameful neglect can only arise from the practice being still, in some measure, in bad hands. It is, indeed, an Augean stable, and ought to be cleansed. Many of the male sex, who now practise that branch, were never educated to the medical profession. To these remarks it may be added, that during the month, no woman should be suffered to go more than twenty-four hours without a stool; and that the dose of the oil should be gradually diminished. I am, Gentlemen, New Street, Hanover Square, April 16, 1811. Yours, &c. JOHN RING. To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal. GENTLEMEN, I SHALL feel much obliged to any of your chemical readers for the explanation of the red colour which immediately results from the combination of rhubarb with the carbonate of potash, or any of the other alkalies. Murray, in his Elements of Materia Medica, states the constituents of rhubarb to be gum, resin, gallic acid, and a quantity of earthy matter, chiefly lime, combined with the - 'sulphuric and citric acids. By the insertion of the above you will much oblige an old Correspondent.. Your's, &c. APOTHECARIUS. For For the Medical and Physical Journal. On Stramonium. (Continued from P. 385.) BOERHAAVE has recorded some similar instances of the peculiar kind of ebriety and mental aberration occasioned by Stramonium, as well as some particular uses to which it was applied by the sensual natives of the East; in his Hist. Plant. quæ in horto Acad. Lugduni. Bat. crescunt, &c. it is stated hæc utuntur meretrices Javanenses, dum a primariis sunt conductæ, tum hanc plantam maritis suis dant et delirii species subsequitur, unde coram maritis lascivia utuntur, et si hæc planta in majori copia detur, stupidi manent, languent et tandum moriuntur. Hæc planta facit mirificè insanire et temulentiam conciliat; qui hanc plantam comederunt, oculis apertis respondent, sed nullius rei memores sunt, nec putant sibi ulla re interesse; hinc tali potu utuntur Indi principes ad suos rivales stupidos reddendos, adeoque imperio minus capaces tamen in vivis servant, ut populo tum possint ostendere." These effects are frequently attempted to be produced by a potion composed of opium, stramonium, and hyoscyamus, it is so mixed as to have little taste or smell; when taken in considerable quantity, or often repeated, the narcotic effects are seldom cured; for though, in a few instances, emetics given immediately after it, with large doses of salt and vinegar, afforded some relief, the faculties of the mind remained permanently injured. Every part of the plant seems to possess active properties; but the effects produced by the seeds are the most violent. Blancardus relates that a girl 18 months old swallowed some seeds of Stramonium which she accidentally found. In a short time she raved, striking every thing, biting, and tearing the bye-standers with her nails, treading on the feet of others, and foaming at the mouth: she presently died in horrid convulsions. A boy of 30 months, who also swallowed some of the seed at the same time, was restored in 24 hours, by exciting vomiting with olive oil and sugar; an enema was injected, and cordial stimulating medicines were afterwards given. A case is mentioned by Kramer, in which a man swallowed some seeds of Stramonium and fennel mixed with sugar in spirits of wine. It occasioned violent delirium; the patient was cured by drinking vinegar in which pepper was infused. Hein has stated a shocking case of two infants who, in con sequence |