NEW REMEDY FOR OBSTINATE INTERMITTENT FEVER.

39 made! inflammation. In addition to the ordinary of phthisis, a fixed, obtuse, and fœtida, followed by the extract of belladonna. throbbing pain was experienced between the The violence of the paroxvsms was thus fourth and sixth ribs of the left side, an inch moderated for a while, hut in five hours they and a half from the sternum, in a space returned with increased intensity, accom- about five inches square. Inspiration and panied with a spasmodic constriction of the coughing gave a lancinating character to the larynx. An apothecary named Lepcig’, re- pain, and communicated to the patient the collecting that tannin precipitated emetine, sensation of the agitation of a heavy liquid administered a decoction of the leaves of in that part of the chest. The severity of the uva ursi with the extract ofrhatany. The the case was such, that the patient’s death remission of the symptoms was almost imme- was daily expected. The following operation was performed diate, in an hour respiration was quite free, and the patient was nearly recovered on the by Dr. Klimer with the consent of some following dayr--Itust’s Magazine, t. xxxii., other physicians. An external incision, two inches long, was made between the fifth ver. 6. and sixth ribs, within three inches of the MENSTRUATION AT THE AGE OF sternum ; the intercostal muscles were sepaNINETEEN MONTHS. rated from the pleura to the extent of a few THE child who is the subject of these ob- lines, and the pleura was then divided sufservations was not of unusual size at her ficiently to admit of the introduction of a birth, but after the first month her growth probe. The lung not being adherent in this place, retired, but superiorly, adhesions rapidly increased; at nine months she had were found to exist, and distinct fluctuation attained the ordinary size of a child a year and a half old, and about this time a few was perceived. The point of fluctuation however, too distant to be incised, and drops of hlood were discharged from the was, too strongly adherent to permit of its being vagina. At eleven months a second and drawn towards the wound. The patient now more abundant sanguineous evacuation took felt as if something had burst in her chest. the became place, mammary glands sensibly became more free when developed, and hairs showed themselves on Her respiration on the left side: about an ounce of placed At months a fourteen and third, thepubes. escaped from the opening. A shortly, a fourth discharge took place, the serous fluid colour of which became deeper and deeper pledget of lint soaked in almond oil was now introduced, and the wound dressed. In two every discharge. The little girl is very well formed, she is hours, purulent expectoration took place, was discharged through the wound, and nearly three feet high, breadth of her shoul- pus ders nine inches, and the circumference of the much relief was experienced. The incision i thorax under the shoulders one foot and ten in the pleura was subsequently increased to the extent of four lines, and the fever was between the anterior suinches,-distance with antiphlogistic remedies. In perior crests of the ilia seven inches, cir- treated cumference of the pelvis oue foot ten inches. six weeks the patient was so much better, The mammary glands are very voluminous ; that the wound was about to be closed, and the external organs of are also a complete and speedy cure was confidently much developed, and scattered over with expected, when a premature indulgence in black short hair. The parents of the child wine induced a pneumonia, which proved are middle-aged and weak. She is not dis- rapidly fatal. On dissection, the vomica tinguished by any proportionate increase ofwas found empty of pus, and lined with the intellectual faculties, neither does she healthy granulations.—Graefe und Walth. offer thf slightest evidence of sexual desire. Journal, B. xrii. H. 4. —Meckel’s Archiv. J’. Anat. n. Physioloo. 3e. cah. NEW REMEDY FOR OBSTINATE

onnces, to

the

stimulating applications

feet, and

he

were

symptoms

took an emulsion of assa-

I

generation

INTERMITTENT

OPERATION FOR THE CURE OF VOMICA, AC-

FEVER.

LAST winter Dr. Mathy had the treatCOMPANIED WITH SYMPTOMS or PHTHISIS. ment of an exceedingly obstinate double quartan, of which one paroxysm commenced By DR. KLIMER. at four A.M. and lasted twelve hours, the THE author advances the proposition, second commenced the following day at nine that where a vomica is situated superiiciattv, A.M. and lasted six hours. Bark had been and touches the parietes of the thorax, it is employed in various forms without success. possible and desirable to open it and give One day the patifnt, who was a candidate issue to its contents. This operation he for the degrees ill divinity, had to deliver a practised himself in the foiltiwingcase :- sermon ; a little before the appointed hour Catherine Hoffman, setat. 26, wasaffected the paroxysm supervened, and he ascended with a vomica, after an attack of pneumonic the pulpit in the height of the cold fit. The

40

efforts he made to collect his ideas andmas.t- skill and gallantry as are unequalled in the ,r history of the world ! vocal organs dissipated ° In the course of the year 1780, my firs; during the sermon, and it never again returned.—Rust’s Magazine, &c. year of service as physician to the fleet on

the fever

ter his

,-

STATE OF HEALTH IN THE ENGLISH NAVY.

the windward station, 1 found from my owt returns, and from examining the records oi the hospitals, that the annual loss of live, from disease previous to our arrival, and some time after, had been at the rate of one in seven ; nor was this alarming rate of

imputable to the prevalence of IT appears that a tract of about fifty pagesthe peculiar epidemic of the climate, fOl has lately been printed, but not published, there were then very few cases of yellow by Sir Gilbert Blane, bearing the followingg fever; and as the principal causes of it title :-" A Brief Statement of the Pro-.were such as seemed to me to be removable and attainable means,I was gressive Improvement of the Health of theeby practical to state these circumstances at the anxious at the the end of eighteenth source of authority. I found that in a fleet, Royal Navy, and beginning of the nineteenth century;of which the complement of men was 12,109, together with practical illustrations, and athe mortality in one year had amounted to narrative of some historical incidents con-- 1,518, besides 350 rendered unserviceable, nected with the subject." The followingra number more than equal to the equipment three ships of the line. When this is extracts having been reprinted from it, weof duly weighed by a considerate mind, as it give them publicity :affects the most important interests of the 11 There are so many public advantages asstate, together with the great difficulty and well as sentiments dear to the heart off expense of replacing these valuable subjects every good subject and good man, that they by fresh recruits, and when the calamitous cannot be too much recommended, cherish- sufferings of the individuals themselves are ed, and dwelt upon. Of these subjects ofbrought home to our feelings, no case could reflection none seems of such magnitude as be conceived more calculated to awaken the consideration that, in consequence of the of patriotism and humanity. ’,No opportunity occurred of effectually great improvement of health the efficiency of the navy is doubled, and the national removing these deplorable evils till the treasure husbanded to anincalculable amount. autumn of 1781, when I attended Sit What a consolation it is in the present state George, afterwards Lord Rodney, to Engof the public finances, that in case of any land, whither he went in order to procure future war, it can be carried on at sea with reinforcements, foreseeing’ that the wind. so great an abatement of treasure, and con- ward station in the West Indies would besequent burdens on the nation ! For it come the great theatre of war. It was then does not require any deep thought to per- I made such representations as brought ceive that at a time when a as we about a total change in the state of health have seen, could not keep the sea for moreof the fleet. In a memorial to the Board of than ten weeks without being rendered un-Admiralty, I stated the causes of disease to serviceable by scurvy, and that nationalI consist in—1st. The neglect of cleanliness, protection required that when the Channel1 ventilation, and dryness, in the interior :fleet has been constrained to return into) economy of ships. 2ndly. The want of the port in so short a time, another naval force,, supply of an article, which had been found,

mortality

sentiments

fleet,

as nearly equal as possible, ought to be; by the most unequivocal experience, to be in preventing and curing scurvy, ready to replace it, for repelling invasion,infallible I

Ione of the most destructive scourges, and at present: the most peculiar to the sea service, of any there was as much service in two ships as class of disease. The remedy alluded to is The formerly in three ; but one of the most dis- the juice of lemon or limes. as not tinguished sea officers that ever lived. de- abuse of spirituous or

baffling the expeditions of the in the habit of saying, that

enemy.

was

clared

that it

his conviction that two ships now are equal to four of former times. How must every young man’s breast therefore exult, when, from the moment he enters the service, he feels conscious of his contributing to these splendid results, while at the same time their hearts are swelling with pride that they belong to a country, which almost in their own memory; or that to me

of their

was

liquors,

Srdlv.

merely

the most common means of intemperance, but as the hahitual beverage of seamen, I recommended the even when diluted. substitution of wine, and, I ought to have added, of strong malt liquor. 4thly. The want of adequate nourishment and comfort for the use of the sick and convalescent on board of their own ships..5thly,. The want of proper bedding and of soap ; so that along

fathers, has made such displays of with the suitable articles of diet, the

means