much harm can be done by adopting this course, as must ensue if it be neglected when the heart is truly the subject of disease. Under this head it may be proper to state that although the English physicians have not understood the diseases of the heart so well as the French, they have bestowed much practical attention on them, under other names, particularly under that of hydrothorax ; and in this way they have made greater advances in respect to the treatment than their neighbours. In support of this statement it will be sufficient to refer to the very valuable work of Dr. McClean on hydrothorax, published in 1810. Lest the work under review should be thought of little value, because it does not supply us with a successful mode of treating the diseases it discusses, we will add one more remark. The investigation of the diseases of the heart has a tendency not only to make those diseases known to us, but also to induce a more accurate discrimination of the diseases of the other great and important organ which is lodged in the same cavity with the heart. It may seem proper for us to speak of the merits of the translation of this valuable book. We lament that we cannot speak of it as we wish. Since unhappily it is so, we must leave to others the unpleasant task of pointing out its errors. Our situation is, we think, such as that this ought not to be deemed a shrinking from duty. ARTICLE VIII. Communications of the Medical Society of Connecticut. No. I. Newhaven; Sidney's press. 8vo. pp. 80. 1810. WE view the progress of medicine in this country with peculiar interest. Thirty years ago, the United States could not boast of a single periodical journal devoted to this science and its collateral branches; nor of more than one public institution for the instruction of candidates for this responsible profession, and even that was in its infancy. Medicine was left far in the rear of the arts, and we were content to adopt theories and mould our practice on the principles of European physicians. This dependance is gradually lessening, and we trust that if we must still be accused of imitation, we may advance some claims to originality. The character of American medical literature, it is to be hoped, is rising. Numerous schools of medicine have been instituted, journals of philosophy have been greatly multiplied, and numerous societies been established, whose members are ardent in the pursuit of knowledge, and ready to communicate to the public the results of their observations and experience. The question has more than once been asked, why such societies, which by their constitution, embrace the most distinguished physicians of the state, and by the frequency of their meetings afford sufficient opportunities to their members to contribute their share of observation, should have done no more in aiding the cause of medicine and the public good by the publication of their transactions. The apparent tardiness with which such works have been offered to the public eye, has operated against the characters of these associations, and they have been accused of feeling little interest in the progress of their profession, and of concerning themselves less about the opinions which may have been formed of them. This reproach however we believe to be unmerited. Although these societies are nominally under the patronage of the government of the state where they are formed; yet, generally speaking, with this honour, they have derived no pecuniary assistance, and thus, though as a body they may be anxious to advance the cause in which they are engaged, yet as individuals they are not disposed to be taxed both in mind and money. They possess no perinanent funds. The necessary expenses of the institutions are defrayed by annual assessments on their members, and these are already as heavy as could be imposed without some danger of boasting of a Medical Society, only in name. Beside this cause there exists another in the difficulty with which individuals who are engaged in an active profession, can be brought to submit to the sacrifice of the time necessary for the completion of the objects of such societies, and although in these the labour is generally sustained by a few persons; yet as it usually happens that the interest taken by such individuals in the general concerns, is more apt to excite jealousy than to conciliate confidence, it cannot be expected that there will be a constant supply of men, who are willing to build up the public good with one hand, while they are compelled to defend themselves from the teazing attacks of the restless and discontented with the other. The Massachusetts Medical Society has been assisted by no foreign aid; and yet, we are proud to say it has published more than any other institution of the same nature in the United States. We know not that the Medical Society, whose memoirs we notice, labours under the same impediments. We might perhaps be permitted to indulge the hope that it did, in order to find an apology for the reluctance with which the ingenious and learned physicians of Connecticut have come forward, at this late hour, to claim their share in raising the character of the medical literature of New England. We regret that our limits will not permit us to give an analysis, or abstract of the papers contained in this respectable work; we shall therefore merely recite the titles of each. On Petechial Fever, by Dr. T. Hall. Dissertation on Aliment, by Dr. Wm. Tully. Case of an affection of the right Ovarium, by Dr. J. Barker. Case of an enlarged Liver, by Dr. J. Foot. Fatal effects of Canine Madness, by Dr. H. Alden. Case of Hydrophobia treated with Opium, &c. Case of strong Morbid Action, treated by depletion, by Dr. J. Foot. Case of Petechial Fever, by Dr. J. Foot. On the Importance of Medical Knowledge, by Gideon Shepherd, M. D. On Anasarca, by A. Tomlinson, M. D. Case of Uterine Polypus, by Eli Ives. Case of Biliary Calculi, by L. Hopkins, M. D. INTELLIGENCE. N MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL TRANSACTIONS. (Continued from page 209.) An account of a severe case of Erythema unconnected with mercurial action. By Alex. Marcet, M. D. &c. This case was attended with stiffness, heat, redness, and swelling on the surface of the body, particularly the hands, feet, ears, and lips. The skin then exhibited the appearance of minute vesicles. Afterwards followed a total desquamation of the cuticle from the parts affected, and an ichorous discharge. These symptoms are analogous to those of the Erythema Mercuriale or Hydrar. gyria, as it has been called; yet the patient had taken no mercury whatever. Dr. M. concludes that this disease may arise from different causes, of which mercury is but one; and thinks the term Erythema ichorosum a more suitable name than E. mercuriale, for obvious reasons. Observations on the mercurial plan of treatment in dysentery, &c. By William Ferguson, Esq. In the "true acute dysentery," attended with general constitutional affection and a diagnostic which Mr. F. calls never failing, viz. the urine being high coloured, even green, scanty and pungent; he gave half a grain of calomel with one grain of ipecacuan every hour. A mild pur'gative was added if the abdominal pain was not alleviated. The mercury was persevered in until the gums were affected, which commonly happened in 48 hours, "when a solution of the disease might be looked for with confidence." Mr. F. had found in dissections of those who died from the disease, that the colon, particularly its descending portion, was thickened, knotted, and ulcerated to an inconceivable degree, the liver was uniformly blackish, hard and wasted; the gall bladder flaccid, and about half full of thin watery bile. Mr. F. is inspector general of hospitals to the army of Portugal. A case of Trismus following a contused wound of the head. By J. Hearkness, Esq. This case, and a subsequent one, by Mr. John Parkinson, were successfully treated by the liberal use of opium, accompanied by cathartics in corresponding doses to secure regular alvine evacuations. The quantity of laudanum taken by the first patient averaged one ounce per day for 22 days, and this "without any effect upon the sensorium, or the production of pain in the head, acceleration of pulse, or disposition to sleep. The bowels being rendered torpid, the patient took on an average for nine days 40 grains of calomel, 51 of colocynth, and 38 of gamboge daily. After his mouth became affected, the calomel was omitted, and 80 grains of colocynth taken with 40 of gamboge. During most of the time he took two bottles of wine and six pints of porter per day. Some observations on Spina Bifida, by Astley Cooper, Esq. F. R. S. The method of Mr. Cooper was spoken of in the first number of this journal. The present paper contains four cases of the disease under the care of that gentleman, which were treated with a view to a palliative or radical cure. The palliative method consists in treating the case as a hernia and applying a truss to prevent its descent. The radical cure is effected by evacuating the fluid from time to time by puncture, until adhesion takes place between the sides of the sac. Mr. Cooper states that a cure is not practicable when the disease is connected with unnatural enlargement of the head, with paralysis of the lower extremities, or incontinence of fæces and urine; if the tumour has burst at birth, or soon after; or if the deficiency of the spine be very great. Flora Virginica. May 20.-We are authorized by Professor Barton, of Phila delphia, to state, that the first part of his "Flora Virginica" |