long before this period? and what can be so good for them as Calisthenics by which I mean a modified course of gymnastics which have assumed the name and character of the feminine gender. Beside, the species of exercise which the elegant essayist does permit, as an exception to his general rule, is far more severe and trying than many others which should precede and introduce it. Further, we have a direct experiment before us in this city in which girls from four years old and upward, have promiscuously joined, in these exercises, always suited to the wants, habits, strength, or weakness of individuals, not only with safety, but with decided advantage. The health, strength, activity, courage and good spirits of all have been awakened, improved, and more or less confirmed.

The truth is, all young animals delight in motion, and require much of it to be well. Now if any family have a place whose space, appara tus, and provisions furnish equal means for free, varied and abundant exercises, as the Calisthenic establishment; then certainly they do not need this. But how many families in a hundred of the most wealthy and independent, have any provision of this kind entitled to a comparison with the gymnasium or Calisthenium?

A REPORT ON CHAMBERS' REMEDY
FOR INTEMPERANCE.

Read before the Med. Soc. of the City of New York, Aug. 20, 1827. Published by order of the Society, under the Direction of the Com. on Quack Medicines. THE Committee on Quack Medicines, in the discharge of the du

ties pertaining to their appointment, have thought it expedient to present to the consideration of the society, the nostrum known by the name of CHAMBER'S REMEDY FOR INTEMPERANCE. So much celebrity has lately attached to this medicine, and so many apparently well authenticated reports of its efficacy have been presented to the public, that it seemed to them that it was due to the public; to enter on its examination; in order that if its pretensions were fraudulent, they might early be made acquainted with the deception, and if otherwise, that they might avail themselves of its benefits, under a full understanding of its composition, effects and mode of operation.

tude of the evil for which the remWhen we consider the magnicdy is proposed, whether in a medical or moral point of view, so far from being surprised at the measure of the popularity it has acquired in the space of four or five months, since it was publicly remark, that as physicians we are announced, we are constrained to disappointed that its circulation has not been more extensive, and its exhibition more general: a fact only explicable on the ground that the community at this day are too intelligent, and have had too much experience of the fallamedicines in times past, to allow cy of the pretensions of secret themselves to be as easily the dupe of imposture, as formerly.

As physicians, we are bound by solemn obligations of duty to the public, as well as to our own reputation, to reprobate, and if need· be, to expose every attempt to impose on the credulity of the prejudiced or the ignorant, in matters relative to our profession; none of us, therefore, can make

1

On a second trial with another parcel of the medicine, fiftyfour grains of tartar emetic, in its crystallized form, was procured, and the mother waters still held considerable in solution, which on account of the gum entering into its composition, could not be conveniently separated.

such a compromise with those en- mittee that the constituents of it gagements which we voluntarily are the following :--Emetic tarassumed, when first authorized to tar,-capsicum,—sulphur, -carpractise physic, as to permit us bon,-cochineal and gum. The to hold any terms with nostrums silex probably belongs to the pod or nostrum venders; for one of of the capsicum. The gummy two things, all secret remedies ingredient is probably gum araare either devices of cunning to bic, and was somewhat embarserve personal interest, or they rassing, as it impeded the passage are not; if they are, the apology of the solutions through the filter, of the profession for opposing and affected the crystallizations. their circulation is complete on The sulphur is seen flowing on every sound principle of common the surfaces of the solutions, and sense; if they are not, and their appears as a yellow powder in authors have claims to intelli- the residuums, mixed with cargence as physicians, it is certain bonaceous matter. that these are made of necessity at the expense of moral obligation on their part, and can have no right to our confidence, on any principle of common honesty. But as it occasionally happens that secret remedies possess some active virtues, which chance or accident may have at first developed, it may become as much the interest of the public, as of physicians, to examine scrupulously into their composition, in order that their merits may be fully tested, and that the profession may avail themselves of them, under circumstances favorable to their particular application; for even such medicines as nostrums are calculated to do more harm than good, from the general terms in which they are recommended, and the want of skill in those who are charged with their administration; as there is no truth of more universal application, than that any medicine which is beneficially operative, when properly exhibited, must be in the same ratio injurious, if improperly used.

Chambers' remedy was analyzed by Mr. G. Chilton; from which it is evident to the Com

From the above analysis it would appear that the remedy owes its efficiency to the quantity of tartar emetic which it contains; for if we except the pepper, there is no other in the quantity used, that possesses any assignable virtue. If any doubt could rest on this result to which the analysis leads, it could not fail to be removed by the collateral evidence which may be brought in confirmation, from its exhibition both internally and externally,its effects on the stomach and bowels are precisely those which might be expected from tartar emetic, and externally applied it will produce the pustular eruption which is peculiar to this metallic salt.* From the printed

Its effects in all the instances which have come to the knowledge of the Com

mittee, are emetic and cathartic, sometimes the one and sometimes the other;

directions which accompany the medicine we learn that the whole packet, containing about half an ounce is to be diffused in one hundred ounces of the patient's favorite liquor, and that from two to six ounces ought to be taken before breakfast and repeated four or five mornings in succession. Should he require more, he may indulge himself ad libitum in this medicated drink, but in no other. If, as is presumed, and it is probably within the truth, that the powder contains one drachm of tartarized antimony, each half pint of the patient's favorite drink must contain 4 4-5 grains of it, and each wineglassful I 1-5 grains, and the fasting dose rather more than 3 1-2 grains; a quantity under ordinary circumstances sufficient to produce not only distressing nausea, but in most instances, full vomiting. The capsicum in in its composition may so modify the action of the emetic tartar, as to prevent full vomiting, in which case it will be expected to prove cathartic; whether it is added with this view, we have no means of judging; it is most probable that it is intended to give taste to a medicine which otherwise would be insipid, as the sulphur, gum and coloring matter, without reference to their medicinal effects, give weight and

depending no doubt on the quantity taken, but most generally both, and they continue about three hours, followed by nausea for a considerable time afterwards. This last fact is stated on the authority of the person who was employed by Chambers to incorporate the various materials composing the powder; he knew nothing of the nature of the several articles which he was employed to triturate, except that it was, as he says, strong stuff, for it caused the backs of the hands and arms, which were bared during this labor, to break out in painful pustules.

bulk and color to the whole, and serve to disguise the only efficient article.

Having possessed ourselves of the medicine, we will now examine its pretensions. We trust that we will be excused for not copying or commenting on the circular letter of Mr. Chambers, accompanying each package; the only remark which we feel it our duty to notice is the following:"I am very positive a free use of the mixture will not injure the constitution; also positive it will cure, if sufficient be taken." Whether or not it be true, we trust will appear in the sequel; not to medical men however, for the very attempt to show its fallacy is little less than an insult to their understanding; but to the public at large, who are particularly interested, not only in this question, but in all others of a similar character called up by the pretensions usually appended to quack advertisements.

Intemperance considered as a disease, is one of a very compli cated nature, involving derangements both of function and organic structure, which if they do not result fatally of themselves, in a short time so modify and aggravate other diseases, as to place the unhappy subjects of them eventually beyond the reach of remedy. The forms in which it presents itself are so various, that a simple catalogue with their leading symptoms would make no inconsiderable part of a system of nosology. Inflammation of the brain and its membranes, of the stomach, liver, kidneys and small intestines; dropsies in all their various forms, gout, mesenteric obstructions, all diseases depending on an habitually increased cir

culation of the blood, as hemor- is so in a degree, no person will rhages, congestions, effusions, apo- deny; as medical men we are too plexy and palsy; and others of a familiar with its operation to acchronic character, as dyspepsia, cord to it any specific virtues : diabetes, and even mania itself whatever agency it exerts over are the liveries which it assumes, and above the disagreeable assobesides such as are formed from ciations it can create, is justly their varied combinations. These attributable to the diseased action indeed present a formidable array it produces in the stomach and of death's instruments, but they smaller intestines, which during do not include the whole, as the its continuance supersedes the experience of every wellinformed necessity of recurring to the use physician can testify and are of the accustomed stimulus; and these to be controlled or cured the habit is arrested for a time by one remedy, and this tartar emetic? Nay, it would be folly to argue the question; let childhood answer, the boasted pretensions of the elixir vitæ of Paracelsus, that patriarch of quacks, were scarcely less extravagant. That the habitual use of tartar emetic can do no harm to the constitution is a position entitled to the same measure of respect; for few persons who have witnessed the progress of intemperance can be ignorant of the fact, that in a very large proportion of cases the stomach becomes so much diseased and so irritable, that vomiting is among the most distressing and fatal symptoms attending it. As a medicine on which to rely for the cure of intemperance therefore, it is deceptive and injurious.*

If tartarized antimony be remedial in checking the habit of intemperate drinking, and that it

From information derived from the most respectable sources, it has been satisfactorily ascertained that its sanatary effects are merely temporary in all cases in which moral restraints offer but a feeble opposition to the habit of intoxication, and it is equally certain that in several instances death followed the exhibition of the presumed remedy so closely, as to leave little doubt of its agency in producing it.

precisely in the same manner as intemperate drinking occasionally relieves itself, as evinced in the cases of all drunkards whose habits of intemperance are intermittent or periodical. As it respects the medicine of Chambers, there can be no doubt, that with the exception of its extravagant pretensions, and the confidence with which they are urged, there is nothing new. Not more than

two years ago, a nostrum of a similar character, promising similar success, was offered on sale at New Orleans, by a French gentleman called L'Oiseau; the benefits for a short time, which attended its use, were such as to induce the proprietors of several plantations to purchase the recipe that they might improve the intemperate habits of their negroes: the effects however were soon found to be hazardous, and its remedial virtues temporary. If it. be not abandoned, it has already lost the confidence of the public.*

The basis of this nostrum was also tartar emetic, though ipecacuanha and several violent vegetable this difference, however, that in catharties entered into its composition. The prescription found its way to this city and was publicly advertised and sold at a store in the Bowery, but it soon lost its popularity, and gave place to that of Chambers'.