itate and lessen the energy of the
circulation, and are thence useful in inflammatory diseases. It must be
added, that if nitre be swallowed in powder, or soon after it is dissolved,
it contributes to lessen the circulation by the cold it generates, like
ice-water, or the external application of cold air.
VI. The respiration of air mixed with a greater proportion of azote than is
found in the common atmosphere, or of air mixed with hydrogen, or with
carbonic acid gas, so that the quantity of oxygen might be less than usual,
would probably act in cases of inflammation with great advantage. In
consumptions this might be most conveniently and effectually applied, if a
phthisical patient could reside day and night in a porter or ale brewery,
where great quantities of those liquors were perpetually fermenting in vats
or open barrels; or in some great manufactory of wines from raisins or from
sugar.
Externally the application of carbonic acid gas to cancers and other ulcers
instead of atmospheric air may prevent their enlargement, by preventing the
union of oxygen with matter, and thus producing a new contagious animal
acid.
III. CATALOGUE OF TORPENTIA.
1. Venesection. Arteriotomy.
2. Cold water, cold air, respiration of air with less oxygen.
3. Vegetable mucilages.
a. Seeds.--Barley, oats, rice, young peas, flax, cucumber, melon, &c.
b. Gums.--Arabic, Tragacanth, Senegal, of cherry-trees.
c. Roots.--Turnip, potatoe, althea, orchis, snow-drop.
d. Herbs.--Spinach, brocoli, mercury.
4. Vegetable acids, lemon, orange, currants, gooseberries, apples, grape,
&c. &c.
5. Animal mucus, hartshorn jelly, veal broth, chicken water, oil? fat?
cream?
6. Mineral acids, of vitriol, nitre, sea-salt.
7. Silence, darkness.
8. Invertentia in small doses, nitre, emetic tartar, ipecacuanha given so
as to induce nausea.
9. Antacids.--Soap, tin, alcalies, earths.
10. Medicines preventative of fermentation, acid of vitriol.
11. Anthelmintics.--Indian pink, tin, iron, cowhage, amalgama, smoak of
tobacco.
12. Lithonthriptics, lixiv. saponarium, aqua calcis, fixable air.
13. Externally, warm bath, and poultices, oil, fat, wax, plasters, oiled
silk, carbonic acid gas on cancers, and other ulcers.
* * * * *
ADDENDA.
_Page 625, line 1, after 'number' please to add_, 'except when the patient
has naturally a pulse slower than usual in his healthy state.'
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