SULPHURIC ACID IN CHOLERA.

523 The profession of medicine, wherever truthfully practised, PROP. 6. That while in the blood the medicine may undergo in some cases may, in others may not, affect lends to mankind the most gentle, the most humanizing influence. In any effort, therefore, to make better the condition of its influence. That these changes may bethe poor son of Africa, our medical brethren of America must a. Of combination. have it in their power to render important service. Now, might b. Of reconstruction. not we, the medical men of this country, do much good by c. Of decomposition. "PROP. 7. That a first class of medicines, called Hsematics, transmitting a fitting memorial to our Transatlantic brethren, endeavour that shall act while in the blood, which they influence. That their action entreating them to lend their aid to every be made to abolish slavery ? Wehave grounds, indeed, for making is permanent. " 1. That of these, some, called Restoratives, act by supply- such an appeal, possessed by no other class of men. The lives of our American professional brothers are, like ours, spent in ing or causing to be supplied, a material wanting; and may endeavours to relieve their fellow men, (whether slaves or freeremain in the blood. I from physical suffering. Who then, are more men, presume,) " 2. That others, called Catalytics, act so as to counteract a fitted than they, to assist in removing mental suffering? Nay, morbid material or process; and must pass out of the body. " PROP. 8. That a second class of medicines, called Neurotics, in the absence of mental happiness, the very profession of act by passing from the blood to the nerves or nerve centres, medicine becomes a falsehood and a crime ; for what merit can there be in relieving the pains of a diseased body, whilst the which they influence. That they are transitory in action. " 1. That of these, some, called Stimulants, act so as to soul which animates it, and for which it only lives, is tortured with insults, and trodden down by the most loathsome tyranny ? exalt nervous force, in general or in particular. I observe that the ladies to whom I have referred above, state " 2. That others, called Narcotics, act so as first to exalt in their memorial, that as they have no share in the government nervous force, and then to depress it; and have also a special of their nation, their appeal is necessarily free from all political influence on the intellectual part of the brain. " 3. That others, again, called Sedatives, act so as to depress feelings. The members of the medical profession of this country might make a similar statement, and might turn the nervous force, in general or in particular. " PROP. 9. That a third class of medicines, called Astrin- misfortune implied in that statement, for once at least, to an useful account. I beg, therefore, to point out to my professional assogents, act by passing from the blood to muscular fibre, which ciates, the benefits that might arise from a memorial to our excite to contraction. they " PROP. 10. That a fourth class of medicines, called Elimina- American brethren on the subject of slavery. I would also memorial might be prepared at the merest tives, act by passing out of the blood through the glands, observe, that the and at little pecuniary cost. The meeting of labour, outlay which they excite to the performance of their functions." of a few active and temperate men to frame a brief letter, together The fourth and last chapter is devoted to the consideration and the signatures of all others who might be favourable to the of the mode of action of some of the more important medicines plan, is all that would be required. Oh! it would be a great and wonderful thing to see the mem. in particular, such as alcohol, arsenic, strychnia, mercury, of the medical profession of Great Britain forgetting for iodine, &c., by means of which several of the general prin- bers once their own quibbles and disputes, and joining in an unaniciples which have been laid down in the propositions are illus- mous appeal to the good feeling of their fellow-labourers on trated. The following observations on the point of view from the other side of the Atlantic, in an appeal for liberty, on behalf which the action of a medicine may be regarded, are so appo- of men who deserve it not less than any other of the children of site, that we cannot do better, in closing our necessarily imper- our supreme and universal Father. By such an act, moreover, fect and brief notice of Mr. Headland’s excellent book, than the English medical body of to-day would leave behind it an impression of goodness, which, instead of being effaced by time, quote them. It is statedwould become greater and more beautiful, in proportion as it was "There are three stages in the progress of the remedy through examined by the wiser and the purer minds of coming ages. the system, at each of which it may exert a special action. I have the honour, Sir, to remain, very obediently yours, There is a contact with the surface, a continuance in the BENJAMIN W. RICHARDSON. system, and a passage out of the system. In the first place a Mortlake, November 29th, 1852. medicines touches the mucous surface of the alimentary canal; here some few evidence their action. From this, if in any way SULPHURIC ACID IN CHOLERA. soluble, it passes into the blood. Here it may act on the To the Editor of THE LANCET. blood, being haematic; or it may employ the blood merely as a means of transit, and direct itself towards nerve or muscular SlE,—Lookers-on often see more of the game than those who fibre, being neurotic or astringent. But we have seen that play. Spectators are amused with the hot-headed warfare carried none of these medicines, with the only exception of restorative on between Drs. Miller and Bell, and Mr. Cox, upon the subject of haematics, can remain long in the system. They must pass out, sulphuric acid as a cure for diarrhoea and cholera. Strange that and the mode of passage is through the glands. Here is a it has not occurred to these claimants for the credit of priority third opportunity of operation. The medicine may act now in the use of this remedy, that have not used sulphuric acid they as an eliminative, increasing the secretion of the gland; or, at all! It is singular that in the formula of Dr. Miller the promore rarely, as a glandular astringent, because tending to portions of diluted sulphuric acid and compound tincture of cardiminish it. damoms, are very nearly those for the formation of sulphuric " As a general rule, though not in all cases, the most impor- ether. tant action of a medicine is that which it first evidences, the , The fact that the combination of the acid and alcohol takes subsequent operations being secondary and of less moment. place very soon in the mixture, is easily verified, and that the Thus mercury is, in the first place, a catalytic hsematic; in combination is speedily completed in the warm stomach is perthe second place an eliminative. Creosote is, firstly, a general true. fectly sedative; secondly, an astringent. Antimony probably belongs That sulphuric ether, as a diffusible stimulus, is of use in cases to three out of the four classes, and its second operation is of diarrhaea and cholera, after the materies morbi has been perhaps the most important. It is a catalytic, a special seda- evacuated from the alimentary canal by the natural efforts or by tive, and also an eliminative."-p. 299. artificial means, is very probable ; but it is sulphuric ether, and not sulphuric acid, which is of service. The incompatibility of acids and alcohol has escaped the THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND AMERICAN observation of the editor of the P7tysician’s Pharmacopaeia. The SLAVERY. vegetable acids are mentioned as incompatible with mineral acids and alkalies, and the mineral acids as incompatible with alkalies To the Editor of THE LANCET. and metallic oxides; but not any notice is given of the incompaSiR,—I see in the Times of to-day, that a meeting of ladies tibility of acids, both vegetable and mineral, with alcohol as has lately been held at Stafford House, for the purpose of addressYours, obediently, forming ethers. ing a memorial from the women of England to the women of ALIQUIS. the United States, in favour of the abolition of slavery. While I earnestly admire the philanthropic motives which Guy’s HospiTAL.—One of the Governors, John called these ladies together, and anticipate great good from their labours, I cannot but think that they have set before the English Harvey Astell, Esq., M.P., has liberally placed at the disposal of members of the profession of medicine, an example well worthy the treasurer, to be competed for by the pupils, an appointment of Assistant-surgeon in the Hon. East India Company’s service. of being followed. "

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