creases it. ics and tonics diminish irritability, while mercury, on the contrary, inThese effects are seen in the influence of climate, not only on the human body, but on all living beings. Susceptibility of impression, or irritability, seems even to differ in kind, as well as in degree, in different beings, and in different parts, owing probably to the difference in structure. Thus applications, such as medicines and poisons, may have no influence on some animals, which, nevertheless, prove destructive to others. Hence also, one part is impressively forced by one agent, which another is scarcely at all affected by. Thus carbonic acid, which, when inhaled into the lungs, quickly destroys life, by suspending the vital functions, acts, on the contrary, as a cordial in the stomach, and invigorates, for a time, the whole system. So it is with different kinds of animals. An agent which upon one will act violently,may produce no effect upon another. Many things, which operate mildly upon human subjects, produce a contrary effect on animals. For instance, oil of turpentine has no great power of stimulating the human skin; but that of the horse is very susceptible of the impression of this agent, and very violent inflammation is quickly produced by it. It is on this account, that in experimenting on different animals, we are not to conclude that the same effect will follow on one as on another tribe. Generally speaking, the susceptibility of the horse is much less than that of man; but the fact above mentioned constitutes one of those exceptions which prevent our relying too much on analogy. We have the same evidence of plants possessing this principle of susceptibility, or irritability, or simple feeling, that we have of animals; namely, the changes which follow the application of stimuli to them; and which, being the result of move ments that are spontaneous, and not mechanical merely, prove, that such indications were, in some way, felt or perceived by them. POLYPUS. Polypus of the nose is a very common and troublesome disease. We have frequently seen it among all ages, in the male and the female, and always found it difficult to remove. Nothing, however, is more common than infallible remedies for this complaint, as calomel and blood-root, asarabacea and ammonia, &c. &c., a pinch or two of which is sure to remove the disease in a week or two, while, in fact, it is constantly made worse, and the only effectual mode of getting rid of it, is bruising, excision or extraction. We know by much experience in this complaint, that not any or all of these boasted remedies, except in the simplest cases of relaxation of the schneiderian membrane, will have the slightest good effect. application of these irritating substances will often produce the disease, and we have reason to believe the use of snuff, in some cases, has been the sole cause in It is occasioned also by producing it. frequent colds or catarrhs, obstruction of the blood-vessels of the head and neck, and by close collars and cravats; and the repetition of the disease, in such cases, after its removal, is only to be prevented by avoiding the exciting cause. The very The best surgical writers notice three varieties of this disease: 1st. The “fleshy polypus, which is a red, soft, sensible, healthy looking tumor, free from pain, and is the mildest of the whole species. 2d. The malignant polypus which is hard, scirrhous and painful, bleeds profusely on slight causes, and is attended with pain on the forehead, and the root of the nose. 3d. Polypus of the mucous membrane of the nostril, which is tough, of a pale color, and a viscid secretion exudes from its surface. gation of the schneiderian membraneindeed, the whole membrane of the nose It is a mere elon is sometimes so relaxed and thickened, as As for the cure of this troublesome com- of the disease. ACUTE RHEUMATISM. use the The pain and protracted confinement consequent on this disease, render it not only a source of much bodily suffering, but of frequent disappointment and unavailing sorrow. The man of business regards the acute pain of rheumatism as a trifle, compared with the inconvenience it causes, by interrupting, for so long a time, the progress of his affairs. Is it impossible to afford relief to such men? can we not find some remedy which will shorten, if we can find none which can cure, this disease? It is a laudable and well-directed zeal which has induced some of our transatlantic brethren to bend their attention of late to this interesting subject. We doubt not that we also might add something to the weight of newly acquired knowledge of the treatment of this disease, if we were not satis fied to follow in the beaten track, and to say, that, since the course prescribed to us in the last century will not put a stop to the disease, it must run its course, and cannot be cured. When a physician tells the sick man that his disorder must run its course, the patient ought to know that if this is the case, he has no need of a doctor. This expression is too common among us, it is an apology for ignorance, it is always the language of negligence, stupidity, or avarice, and should never come from the lips of a man who dares to assume the responsibility of the lives of his fellow men. Every disease would run its course if left without medical interference. If the physician does any thing, he checks it; if he does not check it, he does nothing. The disease under consideration is one which is left most generally to pursue its own tardy progress, and seldom leaves the patient till after a visitation of from three to six months. Among the remedies recently proposed for arresting this malady, is the Arsenical Solution of Dr Fowler, which, given in a dose of 6 to 10 drops, every three or four hours, is said to have great efficacy in interrupting the chain of symptoms. The sulphate of quinine, also given in large doses and often, is said to be as effectual in acute rheumatism as in intermittent fever. If on further trial these results shall be found to be uniform, they will constitute an important practical improvement in our science. If otherwise, we ought then to be more zealous in searching for a weapon, with which we may contend, with more hope of success than we now do, with so annoying and obstinate an enemy. TO ADMINISTER NAUSEQUS MEDICINES. The best plan of giving medicines p. the batter is to be poured, and the other iron is then to be pressed upon it. The little cake, or wafer, thus made, is, as I before observed, to be soaked in water before using it, in order to make it sufficiently pliant to enclose the medicine. I venture to assert, that whoever tries this plan of giving nauseous drugs, &c., in cases of great irritability of the stomach, will seldom prescribe them in pills, syrup, or solution. Calomel, however, can be very conveniently given, floating on a table-spoonful of A table spooncommon cold water. ful of water will float two scruples, if the calomel be not in lumps, and if it be sifted down lightly on the water. Spirits of turpentine should be purified by mixing it with alcohol, as directed by Dr Nemmo.* With these remarks on the manner of administering remedies in cases of great irritability of the stomach; remarks, though seemingly of little importance every where else, may not be entirely so at the bed-side of the sick, I close. VAPOUR BATH.-At the fourth anniversary meeting in London, March 27, the society for cure of scrofula and glandular disease, on Mr Whitlaw's principles, a letter was read from Dr James Hamilton, stating facts within his knowledge tending to prove the utility of the Medicated Vapour Bath in violent and desperate cases. The following is from the Report. Every attempt to form accurate judgment on medical subjects, the committee have utterly disclaimed. They (the committee) have been disappointed in their expectations of encouragement from medical practitioners. By reports from the United States it seems that Mr Whitlaw has been successful in medicating vapour by herbs.t their approbation of his system (as his leta proof of Many medical gentlemen as ter will clearly show) have formed socicties (or corporations) in Massachusetts, &c. Of more than 670 persons, who the last year received advice and medicine in London, where Mr Whitlaw's system is regularly pursued, in two only have they failed in the accomplishment of their most sanguine expectations, and these were much improved in health. * See New-England Journal, vol. XI. 321. + In Boston the vapour is generally medicated with herbs, frequently with rose-leaves, or something to make it pleasant, according to the bather's pleasure. Jenckes' Patent Alleviator. THE HE subscriber having made an arrangement for introducing this invaluable Instrument in the city of Boston, any family who may have one of their number so sick as to require the exertions of their friends to lift them for any purpose, can be accommodated with the use of the Alleviator by calling on Mr WILLIAM HANCOCK, No. 39, Market-street, or on Mr EDMUND PARSONS, No. 10, Portland-street, who has undertaken to put them up when and where they may be wanted, and attend to the use of them. Any person wishing for further information, will please to apply as above. JOHN C. JENCKES. Mr JENCKES has many Certificates, from the Medical Society, and from many eminent surgeons in the U. S. recommending them to the public, among which are the following, viz: Certificate from John C. Warren, M. D. of Boston, Principal of the Massachusetts Hospital. Mr J. C. Jenckes having requested my opinion of his Machine for raising the sick and wounded from bed, I have examined it, and found it well calculated for the purpose. In order to test its practical utility, I desired him to convey it to the Massachusetts General Hospital, and have repeatedly employed it there; particularly in a case of fractured thigh, accompanied with delirium, and found it highly useful. Considering it therefore a valuable invention, I very heartily recommend it for the use of hospials, and for all private patients who may be in need of it. JOHN C. WARREN, Principal Mass. Hospital. Boston, June 16, 1823. Lynn, 25th Feb. 1825. DR CHOATE,-This comes to you by the hands of MR JENCKES, the inventor of an apparatus for raising from the bed, persons whose infirmities or injuries from fractures or other causes have usually rendered a long confinement necessary. MR JENCKES is furnished with numerous certificates from eminent surgeons, respecting the advantages of his machine, and in justice to his mechanical ingenuity and philanthropic character, I subjoin an account of an important case, in which I feel assured, the patient's life has been preserved by the assistance of this apparatus. R. T., a respectable lady, aged 55, unusually corpulent, by a fall on the ice fractured the right thigh bone at the neck. The usual reduction and dressings were attended to, and during the first two It was then discovered that by the continweeks the patient appeared to do well. ued pressure on the back and hips, inflammation had taken place and gangrene and mortification were rapidly succeeding. The state of the fractured limb, the size of the patient, and the nervous excitement under which she laboured, precluded or rendered extremely inconvenient, the necessary dressing to those diseased parts. The patient was rapidly sinking and in the opinion of an eminent surgeon who was called in consultation, there was but a faint prospect of her recovery.-At this critical period Mr JENCKES visited Lynn, bringing with him one of his machines, which was immediately employed, and to the facilities afforded by this in the frequent dressings now become necessary, I am ready to attribute the rapid recovery of the patient from her dangerous situation. That the advantages of this invention may be widely extended, and suffering humanity be relieved from many of its burdens is the ardent desire of Your obedient servant, Philadelphia, Nov. 8, 1825. I have within the last few weeks in two cases of compound fractures, near the ancle joint, used with the most decided benefit the "Alleviator" of Mr Jenckes. Without hesitation I pronounce it a very valuable contrivance. WM. GIBSON, M. D., Professor of Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania. Certificate from the Physicians and Sur geons of the New York Hospital. The undersigned Physicians and Surgeons of the New York Hospital, having examined and witnessed the application of Mr John C. Jenckes' new invention of a Machine for raising the sick from their beds, unite in recommending the same as peculiarly useful for the purposes for which it is intended. DAVID HOSACK, M. D. THOMAS COCK, M. D. ALEX. H. STEVENS, M. D. New-York, July 15, 1823, Published weekly, by John Cotton, Proprietor, at 184, Washington-St. corner of FranklinSt. to whom all communications must be addressed (post-paid). Price two dollars per annum, if paid in advance, but, if not paid within three months, two dollars and a half will be required. and this will, in no case, be deviated from. MEDICAL INTELLIGENCER. VOL. IV. "NON EST VIVERE, SED VALERE VITA." TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1826. For the Medical Intelligencer. "VARIOLOID."-NO. 3. There is a growing disposition,I liked to have said, a morbid oneto multiply the NAMES of diseases. And it is to be lamented that we are led astray in Physic by names, almost as often as in Keligion. By this multiplication of terms, good sense has hardly fair play;-for it fills the head of the student with a jumble of words, and burdens his memory to no useful purpose. Thus VARIOLOID has been brought before the public as a new distemper, and introduced to them as a stranger; whereas I had described this anomaly four and twen ty years ago, yet practitioners in general, would not attend to it; and some were inclined to place it under the head of magnified trifles :-but now they are willing to regard it, because dignified with a name. At that early period of the discovery, I found it needful to write a chapter entitled-"Of SPURIOUS Small Por:" and another-" Of SPURIOUS Kine Pock." (See from p. 101 to 116 of the treatise.) In the first, it was said that spurious small pox had scarcely, if ever, been mentioned in America, before the publications on the Kine Pock had appear ed, notwithstanding its woful consequences had been felt in many families in every part of the Union, that we found it difficult to convey a correct idea of spurious matter, and its necessary effect, spurious cases :—— that the best British writers have used the same term to express failures in communicating the true disease, which had originated from different causes. In the same chapter, several cases are related in the practice of some of the first surgeons in En No. 5. gland, whose patients had, what some would call," the small pox twice." I said in 1802, that spurious small pox was indeed so common an occurrence among inoculated patients, that we might, with equal propriety, put the same query in America, that Dr Jenner did in England-"Where is the village, that hath not yielded its victim to the small pox after inoculation, for that disease was supposed to have been properly performed?" In the last general inoculation with small pox, in this quarter, including Boston, which was in 1792, a considerable proportion of all the first cases were spurious, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a sufficiency of good matter. It appears that Small Pox inoculators here and in England, had not, previous to the practice of vaccination, any correct ideas of the change which variolous matter may undergo in the putrefactive process; or that matter, thus changed, would give rise to a train of symptoms, bearing so strong a resemblance to the true small pox, as to be often mistaken for it; neither did they appear to know that a severe diseasc, resembling small pox, would arise from variolous matter taken at too late a period of its pustule. This may account for what has been sometimes said, that such a person has had the small pox Twice. There is not only SPURIOUS Small Pox and SPURIOUS Kine Pock, but spurious measles; that is, a morbilious affection, so slight as not to secure the person from a second attack of it, not fever enough to consume, if you please, the original pabulum. But it is SPURIOUS KINE POCK of which we have most occasion to |