With singular pleasure, I beheld its powerful effect. No sooner were the gums slightly sore, than every dangerous symptom vanished: it operated like a charm: the irritability of the stomach, which was extremely distressing, and which had defied the power of saline effervescing and alkalescent mixtures; camphor, opium, solut. of vit. alba, (as recommended by M'Clean) and blisters to the stomach, yielded to the conquering power of mercury. The dark crust, which covered the tongue, peeled off from the edges first, then from the centre; the skin, which before the exhibition of mercury, imparted a burning, dry sensation to the fingers, now became soft and gently moist. Thus a disease, which frequently continues for weeks, was cut short by this powerful remedy. Many were free from disease, except debility and sore gums, on the fifth day; very few exceeded the seventh.

Barley water acidulated with lemon juice, also weak gentian or snake-root tea, were given as common drink ; very little wine was used until the convalescent state commenced, which I dated from the time the gums became sore, and then, it was given with a decoct, cort. peruv. or with sago, tapioca and gruel: rice, chocolate, barley, and portable soup, composed the chief diet of the sick. In a few instances, I found it necessary to order the head to be shaved, and blisters to be applied, otherwise I did not make that general use of them as recommend, ed by Lind and others.

:

Of seventy-three men attacked with this disease, three died their deaths happened on the fifth, seventh, and thirteenth day. The last had a swelling of the parotid glands, which suppurated partially: bloody pus issued from the

ear; gangrenous spots appeared on the ears, cheek, tongue, and fauces. I am sorry to add, that the violent pain in the thorax, with anxiety, together with a fuller pulse than common, induced me to bleed these men, and four others, at the commencement of the disease, before I placed that confidence in the mercurial treatment, which success afterwards established.

I had been in the habit of drawing blood freely on the commencement of fevers, both in the West-Indies and Mediterranean, with success; but, in this disease, it was most assuredly pernicious: perhaps, in other climates, it may prove useful in typhus; indeed, the authorities in its favour, place it beyond a doubt. It was evidently inju

rious in three cases: violent delirium came on immediately after, which ended in coma, from which the patient could not be roused: it also rendered the cure more tedious in three other cases. Nevertheless, could the systems of these three unfortunate men have been mercurialised, I am very confident that they would now be living monuments of the good effects of mercury.

It is worthy of remark, that there were several suspicious cases on board, in the months of December and January, 1802 and 3, when in Gibraltar bay. The weather had been very boisterous and wet, for some time, but the disease did not spread until the 11th of February, when on our passage to America. Many days previous, we were under the necessity of having the hatchways closed, in consequence of heavy rains and gales. Every precaution was taken to procure a current of fresh air betwixt decks: fires were also lighted, to dissipate moisture. The disease spread so rapidly, that, in a few days,

forty-nine were confined to their hammocks. As we approached the coast of America, in the month of March, our sick list diminished: the weather was very cold; we had several frosty nights, which appeared to have a very powerful effect in diminishing the number of sick. When we arrived in the Potomac, there were very few, except convalescents, on the sick list.

Several persons were affected by going into the sick apartment, contrary to orders. One gentleman received the infection by inhaling the air which passed through a scuttle which communicated with the sick birth.

t

The ophthalmia which followed, in many instances, was very obstinate. Topical blood-letting had very little ef fect; collyria were useless, except for the purpose of cleansing the eyes from a puriform discharge, which was constant. A blister applied to the forehead, was the only certain remedy, for this distressing complaint.

Whether mercury cured, by stimulating the system generally, or particularly the glandular system; or, by creating and supporting an action different from the morbid; or, by creating a new disease; I leave to your theoretical genius to determine.

I trust, sir, you will excuse the hasty manner in which these remarks have been thrown together.

With sentiments of sincere respect,

I have the honour to subscribe myself,
Your humble servant,

DR. WM. CURRIE.

ED. CUTBUSH,

VIII.

CONJECTURES respecting the ORIGIN of ENDEMIC FEVERS. Addressed to the Editors of the American Medical and Philosophical Register, by a SERIOUS ENQUIRER.

Philadelphia, October, 1810.

THE question of foreign or domestic origin of the pestilential fevers, which have so frequently desolated several of our cities, within eighteen years past, seems to have been put to rest, for some time, by the bold assertions, without proof, of those, who, having hastily formed and published their opinions, are unwilling to have the subject further investigated.

The following thoughts were committed to writing seven or eight years ago, and have been occasionally shown to many friends, who will recognize them, although they are somewhat enlarged from the first copy. They would, probably, have remained in the writer's port-folio, had he not casually met with the prospectus of this work, of which a prominent object is to establish the line of distinction, between those diseases which are of a foreign source, and such as are engendered at home. With a view to promote serious enquiry, the writer submits them to the public, hoping that his diffidence will not be considered a sufficient cause to condemn them unconsidered.

Fevers which are endemic, in countries where stagnant waters are exposed to the summer heats, have, generally, from the most ancient medical records to the present time,

been attributed to miasmata exhaled from marshes or other putrescent waters.

I have searched, in vain, every lexicographical work, that is accessible to a man in the ordinary walks of life, for a description of miasm. The first I looked into was Johnson's dictionary, where I found that it was derived from the Greek verb Miava, signifying to infect. Hedericus, in his lexicon, renders the word Miaoua, "inquinamentum contagium," &c.* The Encyclopædia Brit. tannica has "Miasına, among physicians, a particular kind of effluvia, by which certain fevers, particularly intermit tents, are produced." This definition throws little light on the subject, and all that can be collected is, that miasm is infectious, and that it is an effluvium from something.

Here a question naturally occurs, is it a gazeous exhalation, raised by the warmth of the atmosphere from some colder body? or, by effervescence from terraqueous matter, in a state of fermentation?

I am not sufficiently versed in the science of chemistry to resolve this question, secundum artem, or even to my own satisfaction; but, from the little I know, by reading, by attending a few lectures, and by my own observations and reflections, I incline to the opinion, that the miasmata in question, are not gazeous. Fixed air, collected in mines, deep vaults, large brewers' working vessels, or in close chambers, by means of burning charcoal, will destroy animal life instantly by inspiration; and inflammable airs,

* In Constantine's lexicon, I find Miava, fido, polluo, contamino, Miaoua, impuritas, piaculum, scelus.