it was caused by such an extension of the fibres, that they were nearly on the point of breaking.

It happened either in the fall of 1761 or 1762, that I had rid almost all day in a drizzling rain, my boots were wet and my legs cold. I was wakened in the night with a most violent cramp in my left leg; and as it was the first I ever remember to have felt, I expected to be lame, and unable to travel next day. But the pain abated and I slept until day. I recollected having had the cramp, and my dread of being lame. I began to examine my leg, and was agreeably surprised to find it entirely free from any uneasy sensation. I began to reflect and reason on the subject, and finally concluded that it was very improbable that if these fibres had been almost lacerated in the night, they would now be perfectly free from any uneasy sensation, even when roughly handled. After carefully revolving the subject, I concluded that, as sensation depended entirely upon the animal spirits, it must follow as a natural consequence, that when they were redundant in any nervous part, they would produce a degree of supersensation and pain, in proportion to their quantity and activity; as a small application of fire will warm us most agreeably, but a greater degree will burn us. Upon this principle the doctrine of inflammation is founded; for without fire there would be no heat. This mode of reasoning appeared to be conclusive, but I wished for experimental confirmation. An opportunity for this purpose happened in a few weeks. I was awakened in the night with a severe pain in the left side of my breast, which was aggravated by respiration; on recollecting the opinion which I had formed, I took the skin opposite to the part in pain between my fingers and thumb, and pinched and wrung it, and in less than twenty minutes the pain ceased, I fell asleep, and felt it no more.

But these internal spasmodic pains, should (if possible) be quickly removed by revulsion, or the preternatural flux of spirits and fluids to the part, will produce inflammation, with all its dreadful consequences.

Opium, as a diffusible stimulant, acts by revulsion, dispersing the spirits equably throughout the system, and may in recent cases of violent pain be safely given, except to plethoric patients, with a hard full pulse, and heat above the healthy standard. But while the opium suspends the pain, other means to prevent its return should not be neglected, such as going into a warm bath of soft water, or, if this cannot

conveniently be done, the part should be fomented with an infusion of bitter herbs, drawn with soft boiling water, to which a pint of spirits should be added; and then a strong epispastic should be applied opposite to the seat of the pain. The patient should now receive the warm vapour of an infusion of mullein-flowers into his lungs; and when it is yet warm, sweeten it with honey, and give a wine-glassful every second or third hour, with thirty drops of spirit. nitri dulcis. But although the pains and every uneasy sen sation may cease, the patient should cautiously avoid exposure to the cool air, or drinking any cold liquor for some days. If these directions were punctually followed in time, we should hear of but few consumptions.

But as the prevention of this destructive disease is preferable to the best methods of curing it, it is of importance to point out some of the causes which produce it, especially with respect to females. The first I shall mention is a com bination among the shoemakers; who appear to have resolved, that as the ladies gowns have no bodies, their shoes should have only the semblance of a sole, but so narrow that half an inch of the vamp comes to the pavement at every step, and admits the water very freely. Secondly, I must mention the pernicious effects of their bodyless gowns without sleeves. When a lady rises in the morning, she dresses comfortably, probably in a gown with long sleeves; but Mrs. A. receives the following polite card from Mrs. B. "Mrs. B. presents her most respectful compliments to Mrs. A. and (having invited a few select friends) requests the pleasure of her company to spend a sociable evening." The weather is cold and damp, but Mrs. B. cannot think of entertaining company in the common room; and about half an hour before the visitants are expected, a fire is kindled in the best parlour, which had been well scrubbed in the forenoon; and to have all things compleat, the carpet is laid down before the floor is dry. The time draws near. Mrs. A. retires into a cold room to dress, and as a suitable substitute for the warm morning dress, adopts thin book or cambric muslin, with short wide sleeves, and other corresponding articles of dress! The neck and breast are bare, or covered with very thin gauze, and the arms naked almost to the shoulders. If the breast is left open to facilitate the entrance of Cupid's darts, it affords a more certain mark for the envenomed shafts of the grisly king of terrors. A muff and tippet may be worn in the street, but are laid aside

before the room gets warm. But Mrs. A. is bedecked in a suit much better adapted to the month of August than December; she looks out of the window and observes that it has rained, and that the streets are very wet, but no matter; the walks are pretty dry, and it is but a step. Madam sets off, and gets her feet wet. When she arrives, the fire just begins to blaze, the room is cold and damp, but off goes the muff and tippet; her feet are wet and cold, but politeness will not permit her to dry them; she sits shivering until the fire has warmed the room. The company having all arrived, the warm tea is served about; which, with the heat of a crowded room, opens the pores and produces a copious perspiration. At length the company breaks up, and the visitants return home through the damp night air, and find many of their fires extinguished and the rooms cold; they go shivering to bed, and are awakened in the morning with a most violent cough and hoarseness!!

The Deity has mercifully adapted the human constitution to bear very considerable extremes of heat and cold, but the changes from one condition to the other must be gradual; as all sudden changes either from heat to cold or from extreme cold to heat, are attended with imminent danger, for the reasons assigned in the 119 page of the Treatise. When a warm morning gown, with long sleeves and a shawl, is exchanged for a thin muslin without sleeves, and a gauze handkerchief, the change is too great and too sudden to be borne with impunity; and any person who considers the circumstances can be at no loss to account for the frequency and fatality of consumptions. Here is fashion exhibited on one side, attended with disease, death, and desolation; and common prudence on the other side, promising health, pleasure and longevity, submitted to the choice of rational beings.

A CASE of CROUP, which terminated favourably under the treatment of SQUILLS and MERCURIUS DULCIS; accompanied with remarks and observations: Communicated to the Medical Society of the county of New-York, by JACOB V. BROWER, M. D.

A

MALE child eight months old, of a muscular, robust habit of body, on the third of June, 1808, about the fifth day of sickness, and the third day after it had become serious and alarming, was found labouring under the following symptoms: great restlessness, and an almost constant desire of motion and of going from the arms of one person to those of another; a rattling noise in the air passages, both in the act of inspiration and of expiration; paleness of the countenance, except when the cough lasted for some time, which produced a flush over the face, together with a short fit of crying. Single efforts of coughing, which occurred between the paroxysms, did not produce any alteration in the paleness of his countenance. He had also great heat and dryness of the skin, perpetual thirst evinced by a constant desire for the breast, and a frequent pulse with great throbbing of the large arteries. Has had two days since occasional vomiting with a lax, but is at present costive. The voice in crying was clear and sharp; the cough, though it commenced with a harshness, yet the last impression it made on the ear was a shrill sound. A vomiting came on occasionally, and gave relief in the breathing for some time. I prescribed one teaspoonful of the syrup of squills and one grain of calomel every half hour, till three doses were taken, and then the same quantity every two hours.

June 4th, 6 o'clock, A. M. Has been very restless last night during the intervals of dozing, which lasted only for a few moments at a time. The noise made by breathing appears to be different from what it was yesterday evening; it is a wheezing which has been compared to the sound of air rushing through muslin; that wheezing at present is produced in the expulsion of air from the lungs, and not in the act of inspiration. His tongue is somewhat yellow and dry; and his face is bloated at irregular intervals of time. Other symptoms are the same as those before enumerated. Ordered the tepid bath for ten mi

nutes, and the medicines every two hours as before directed.

One o'clock, P. M. He is not so restless, and to every appearance is better; has had since this morning two or three turns of getting better, and then soon after worse. There is now more rattling in his breathing than there was at the last report.

June 5th, 7 o'clock, A. M. My patient has ejected repeatedly, by coughing and gagging, large quantities of mucus since yesterday; and was put in the warm bath last night. He appears to be considerably emaciated; his breathing is attended with both rattling and wheezing: there is a coolness about the thorax, but the rest of the body is hot. Each dose of the calomel is increased to one grain and a half, which, together with the squills, is to be given every half hour until four portions be taken, and then every two hours as before directed.

Three o'clock, P. M. In addition to the other symptoms, after a fit of coughing and vomiting, the child's feet, arms and lips were observed to turn of a livid hue, which colour now appears on one foot, but in the rest has disappeared; his stools are slimy and of a dark green colour, and he is comatose. This was the most alarming day of his sickness; the relatives and neighbours came in, as one expressed it, "to see the last of him."

June 6th, 8 o'clock, A. M. The breathing is more rattling when the child is asleep than when awake. His skin is not so hot; he does not vomit so frequently; the discharges are less thick and slimy, and have a milky white colour. The livid appearances are gone; the skin is moist, and the child appears somewhat better in every respect.

Eight o'clock, P. M. He has been somewhat lively during the day, but has had no sleep, and as correctly as the parents can judge, has been without fever. The fluids, which have been ejected three or four times since this morning, continue slimy and white. At present he has some fever, his breathing is wheezing, and his cough has a harsh sound. A white miliary eruption, forming small eminences hard and rough to the touch, has appeared over his face and body. The medicines to be repeated every five or six hours.

June 7th, 6 o'clock A. M. Perspiration appears to flow freely this morning, and the child is free from fever; he was very hot and restless during the latter part of the night.