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NITRE
766 American Indian may he taken
NITRE AS A THERAPEUTIC
as
the true
specimen of their character. Beingasked why he gave such an herb or root for such a disease, the savage briefly replied, Be. "
AGENT.
cause
it
cures
the disease."
The nitrate of potash is found greatly to IT is well known, experimentally, that dark and grumolls blood is, by a minute moderate the excessive thirst which proves portion of nitre, rendered florid,-of the ap- so distressing in cholera. Should ordinary pearance of arterial blood; aud whrn thus remedies he rejected in this disorder, I impregnated, it is doubtless more stimu- have no hesitation in saying they ought to lating to the solids. Muriate of soda is be promptly administered by glyster, in similar to it in effect, but a larger quantity small form (as in four or five ounces of mu. of this salt is required. Nitrate of potash broth), so as to be retained. I is much more powerfully antiseptic than have been surprised to find this application this substance, as a very small proportion of remedial agents so much neglected in will preserve meat from putrefaction, and the treatment of this disorder, even in hos. impart a fresh and lively red colour. Its pitals, and when most urgentlyindicatedby diuretic power is also greater, especially the excessive vomiting and purging : howil it when combined with opium ; and it is re- is so nee:lected it is difficult to conceive. J. HANCOCK, M.D. markable, that when these two are used in combination, they produce a salivary discharge for a few hours, similar to mercury. CONTRACTILITY OF THE SPLEEN— If to this be added a few grains of calomel, VENOUS INJECTIONS. it becomes a potent sudorific, or, rather, we might call it, a universal secerner. Nitre is generally considered to be anti- MAJENDIE in a course of lectures on ex. physiology delivered in t8i8, phlogistic, or of a cooling quality ; but this perimental idea is probably erroneous-indeed it is in endeavouring to prove the contractility even palpably the reverse, which may be of the spleen, injected a quantity of tepid’ proved by any person who will take thirty water into the jugular vein of a dog. He or forty grains of this salt three times a states, that the abdomen being opened, he day, by which the body becomes so much observed the liver, kidneys, and spleen, in. heated as to be in a semi-febrile state. At creased in size, thicker, and more turgid the same time I regard this salt as a most than natural. The spleen, which was at valuable remedy, both in inflammation and first three and a half inches in length, befever, whether adynamic, or dependingon came reduced to three inches, its breadtlr phlogistic diathesis ; the refrigerant prin- and thickness diminishing still more per. ciple ascribed to it has probably been in- ceptibly in proportion as the blood was ferred from its effect upon the tongue, and expelled by a slow contraction like that the sensible degree of cold produced by its from elasticity. Now in some of the cases solution. It is one of the most useful reme- of death where venous injection had been dies in typhus, but for which disease it previously employed, the existence of the has long since been proscribed, from its realleged by Majendie to take puted sedative virtues,doubtless on the old place, might, I apprehend, were the attendirected to it, be determined. If conmaxim, that contraries are the cure of conit would materially strengthen the traries, as though all diseases depended on advanced by him as to the strucexcess or defect of phlogiston. hypothesis Opium was formerlv considered to be in its nature ture of the spleen, and at the same time cold, but now the contrary opinion of its elucidate, in some measure, the anomalous property is entertained. Conceits and theo- function of that organ. Doubtless the opretical views regarding the modus operandi portunities of some of your readers will of medicines, act in numerous instances as enable them to furnish some interesting inclogs rather than as auxiliaries to the heal- formation with reference to the above ing art. In proofof this position, it is but ne- point. C. N. To the Editor. cessary to consider that we can judge of the merits of any remedy only by observing the NITRATE OF IRON.—Nitrate of iron may results of its employment in actual disease. probably be very beneficial as a preventive, Some there are, indeed, who perhaps vainly in removingslight diajrhosas, which are imagine, that man is capable of compre- apt to terminate in cholera. I have advised hendmg the innate and essential properties a number of my patients, whose bowels are of matter, and that unless he can explain easily affected, to adopt the precaution of the nature and most recondite operations taking this medicine, and I believe all of of any remedy, he ought not to adopt it in them have now less tendency to diarrhœa,— practice. Of such fancies, the reply of an Mr, Ker.
cilaginous
phenomena tion firmed,
NITRE AS A THERAPEUTIC
as
the true
specimen of their character. Beingasked why he gave such an herb or root for such a disease, the savage briefly replied, Be. "
AGENT.
cause
it
cures
the disease."
The nitrate of potash is found greatly to IT is well known, experimentally, that dark and grumolls blood is, by a minute moderate the excessive thirst which proves portion of nitre, rendered florid,-of the ap- so distressing in cholera. Should ordinary pearance of arterial blood; aud whrn thus remedies he rejected in this disorder, I impregnated, it is doubtless more stimu- have no hesitation in saying they ought to lating to the solids. Muriate of soda is be promptly administered by glyster, in similar to it in effect, but a larger quantity small form (as in four or five ounces of mu. of this salt is required. Nitrate of potash broth), so as to be retained. I is much more powerfully antiseptic than have been surprised to find this application this substance, as a very small proportion of remedial agents so much neglected in will preserve meat from putrefaction, and the treatment of this disorder, even in hos. impart a fresh and lively red colour. Its pitals, and when most urgentlyindicatedby diuretic power is also greater, especially the excessive vomiting and purging : howil it when combined with opium ; and it is re- is so nee:lected it is difficult to conceive. J. HANCOCK, M.D. markable, that when these two are used in combination, they produce a salivary discharge for a few hours, similar to mercury. CONTRACTILITY OF THE SPLEEN— If to this be added a few grains of calomel, VENOUS INJECTIONS. it becomes a potent sudorific, or, rather, we might call it, a universal secerner. Nitre is generally considered to be anti- MAJENDIE in a course of lectures on ex. physiology delivered in t8i8, phlogistic, or of a cooling quality ; but this perimental idea is probably erroneous-indeed it is in endeavouring to prove the contractility even palpably the reverse, which may be of the spleen, injected a quantity of tepid’ proved by any person who will take thirty water into the jugular vein of a dog. He or forty grains of this salt three times a states, that the abdomen being opened, he day, by which the body becomes so much observed the liver, kidneys, and spleen, in. heated as to be in a semi-febrile state. At creased in size, thicker, and more turgid the same time I regard this salt as a most than natural. The spleen, which was at valuable remedy, both in inflammation and first three and a half inches in length, befever, whether adynamic, or dependingon came reduced to three inches, its breadtlr phlogistic diathesis ; the refrigerant prin- and thickness diminishing still more per. ciple ascribed to it has probably been in- ceptibly in proportion as the blood was ferred from its effect upon the tongue, and expelled by a slow contraction like that the sensible degree of cold produced by its from elasticity. Now in some of the cases solution. It is one of the most useful reme- of death where venous injection had been dies in typhus, but for which disease it previously employed, the existence of the has long since been proscribed, from its realleged by Majendie to take puted sedative virtues,doubtless on the old place, might, I apprehend, were the attendirected to it, be determined. If conmaxim, that contraries are the cure of conit would materially strengthen the traries, as though all diseases depended on advanced by him as to the strucexcess or defect of phlogiston. hypothesis Opium was formerlv considered to be in its nature ture of the spleen, and at the same time cold, but now the contrary opinion of its elucidate, in some measure, the anomalous property is entertained. Conceits and theo- function of that organ. Doubtless the opretical views regarding the modus operandi portunities of some of your readers will of medicines, act in numerous instances as enable them to furnish some interesting inclogs rather than as auxiliaries to the heal- formation with reference to the above ing art. In proofof this position, it is but ne- point. C. N. To the Editor. cessary to consider that we can judge of the merits of any remedy only by observing the NITRATE OF IRON.—Nitrate of iron may results of its employment in actual disease. probably be very beneficial as a preventive, Some there are, indeed, who perhaps vainly in removingslight diajrhosas, which are imagine, that man is capable of compre- apt to terminate in cholera. I have advised hendmg the innate and essential properties a number of my patients, whose bowels are of matter, and that unless he can explain easily affected, to adopt the precaution of the nature and most recondite operations taking this medicine, and I believe all of of any remedy, he ought not to adopt it in them have now less tendency to diarrhœa,— practice. Of such fancies, the reply of an Mr, Ker.
cilaginous
phenomena tion firmed,