We have studied a plainness of diction, and familiarity of illustration on this part of our investigation, on account of the extreme importance of acquiring accurate notions on the subject of 'temperature, in reference especially to pulmonary disorders; and we beg particularly to urge attention to the mischief of partial exposure, because we think that on this circumstance hinges a very great portion of the evil we wish to point out and to caution against.

Why,' says Dr. Cogan, who resided a considerable time in Holland, and was consequently well qualified to judge accurately, why is it that in Britain, devotional congregations, and assemblies of pleasure are always and greatly interrupted by incessant coughing and expectoration, while in the largest assemblies in Holland, instances of a similar kind are hardly 'known. This very striking difference I have been induced to ascribe to the contrast observable between the two countries in the construction of their habitations, and in the peculiarities "of dress'

This last peculiarity consists principally in the very sedulous attention given by all ranks to a preservation of warmth in the feet, and it has been seen above, that the hardy Russian, on his midnight coach-box, is particularly guarded against cold in the feet and legs. As to habitations, let it once be established as fact, that regularity of temperature is of essential moment in preventing attacks of pulmonary disease, and we admit a fortiori, that nothing is more calculated to produce and foster them, than the English method of warming their apartments. Who is there that has not witnessed the production of fits of coughing, by the simple circumstance of removing, in a large room, to a distance from the fire-place? and what wonder that it is so, when it is recollected, that such removal will oftentimes be the exposure to an air of twenty or more degrees colder, than that which the individual had been the moment before inhaling when sitting by the fire side! Nay, even while so sitting, one part of the body will be heated to pain, while another is suffering from cold, than which nothing can be more calculated to occasion what is called cold, and all its consequences, according to the peculiar susceptibilities of the person thus situated.

Now we have above hinted that we do not think the subject of British tendency to consumptive affections, has been so satisfactorily discussed, as fully to prove that Russian and Dutch habits in relation to heat and cold, could they obtain in this country, would insure an equal immunity from their attacks. But still there is, at the very lowest calculation, sufficient evidence furnished, to prove that a great deal of the exemption

stated, is palpably referable to the different management of temperature; and, under this impression, we look, with a great deal of pleasure, upon those attempts which are now making, to bring the public mind to a feeling of the great importance of a regulated temperature in the management, both preventive and curative, of pulmonary disorders. It is proposed that the subject of such disorders shall constantly be exposed to an atmosphere of an unvaried temperature; and as this uniformity of heat cannot be ensured by our common open fire-places, stoves are proposed to be used in the sick apartment, which shall effect the desired purpose. The common shop or ironing stove, is found best to accomplish this object. It resembles the English stove, says Dr. Buxton, the principal proposer of the plan in question,) because it opens into the apartments it warms, thus causing a < constant ventilation. It resembles the German stove, because it exposes a large heated surface, continually warming the particles of air which come into contact with its sides; and thus answers the double purpose of warmth and ventilation.' The scheme in question, is, of course, intended principally to apply to an actually disordered state of the lungs, and as such, is to be viewed in the light of a remedial process.

We trust that enough has now been advanced, to prove the importance of a due attention to temperature in the way of prevention We shail for the present dismiss this part of the subject, and proceed to offer a few remarks on the general plan of treatment which our Author recommends, merely stating that we think he has not done justice to his contemporary, Dr. Buxton, in not having mentioned his name. The merits of those plans which promise much public utility, and which are put forward, and persevered in, against opposition, ought to be distinctly noticed, and duly appreciated; and we think, in this point of view, Dr. B. deserves much praise. But on this head we must not enlarge

In commencing his remarks on the subject of particular remedies, Dr. Southey very properly, at least in our opinion, expresses his unbelief in the anti-phthisical powers of emetics, in the way in which they have been extolled by some practitioners.

When the expectoration, however, (he adds) is scanty and difficult, with a sense of oppression in the chest, and irregular fibrile paroxysms, a dose of ipecacuanha sufficient to excite slight vomiting, may be given with advantage.'

On the subject of the different preparations of iron,' our Author's sentiments require, we think, some qualification to make them correct.

In chlorotic females (he justly remarks) of a consumptive fa

mily, this medicine (iron) as a preventive is invaluable, particularly when given in combination with some purgative.'

So far we fully agree with him; but when he questions the further utility of iron, we are compelled to feel and express a difference of sentiment.

The connexion of consumptive ailments with a faulty state of the menstrual discharge, is perhaps too much disregarded in practice. We recollect to have seen in a periodical publication, some very sensible observations on this head, from the pen of Dr. Shearman, in a paper entitled On the connexion which subsists between Amenorrhoea and Phthisis Pulmonalis;' in which the writer says, that in consumptive females, we should always keep in view the probable dependence of the pulmonary symptoms upon the interrupted functions of the uterus, and direct our treatment accordingly.' Now it is in these cases especially, that steel often proves highly serviceable, even subsequent to the commencement, and actual establishment, of the disorder in the lungs. Its combination with foxglove, under these circumstances, is often abundantly useful. Of this last medicine, Dr. Southey expresses himself as follows:

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In that form of consumption which is preceded by spitting of blood, foxglove I consider, of all internal medicines, to be the most useful. In strumous constitutions, it is less frequently beneficial; but no practitioner can have given it an extensive trial without being convinced of its occasional value.'

This opinion, too, we think, requires to be somewhat modified. In the endless controversy, whether digitalis be a stimulant or sedative, we certainly feel no inclination to engage; but the remarkable utility of this drug, in small and very gradually increased doses, over some affections which acknowledge a strumous origin, we shall venture here to mention, though perhaps a little out of place.

The reader may recollect that we have pointed out a tendency to abdominal hardness, as indicative of a scrophulous temperument. This hardness, it is hardly necessary to inform the medical reader, is occasioned by a diseased condition of the mesenteric glands. When it exists in any very considerable degree, it constitutes the tabes-mesenterica of authors; and it is in this affection, that we have witnessed very unequivocal and extensive good done by the administration of very small doses of the foxglove, without the assistance of any other medicine, excepting perhaps, and that not always, the occasional employment of a calomel purge. Two drops at a dose of the tincture which the London College orders, increased by a single drop at a time, to

six or more, have appeared to us to do more under the circumstances supposed, than steel or any other tonic or stimulant medicine whitever.

There is another state of things, in which the utility of digitalis is hardly perhaps appreciated as it deserves; we mean in the cough that often prevails, and, in consumptive habits, is always alarming, during and after the measles. In these cases, too, we have seen another medicine of much service, as well as in incipient consumption; namely, the hemlock, and the conium maculatum of Linneus. Of such decided utility is this last, in those dry semi-kind of coughs which are often the harbingers of confirmed consumption, that we are surprised at the silence of our Author respecting its virtues

The minor remedies for allaying particular and occasional symptoms we cannot afford space to discuss; but we must not pass over a substitute for opium which Dr. Duncan, in his late treatise, has pointed out; and which, we think, promises to be a useful addition to the materia-medica. It is an extract made from the juice of the garden lettuce. The soporific powers of this plant have, as Dr. Southey remarks, been long known; and this preparation seems well entitled to a trial.

We cannot finish our notice of consumptive remedies, without remarking on the practice of opening issues inthe chest, which we think we have ourselves seen of service towards the prolongation of life, after the hope of radical and ultimate success had been abandoned. Dr. Southey is decidedly of the same sentiment; and he expresses his opinion-an opinion which we think by no means destitute of foundation, that were issues had recourse to early in the complaint, they might often prove of more than mere temporary service. He favours us, indeed, with a case in point, and which we are sorry our limits will not suffer us to insert.

I have never (he says) advised issues at a distance from the seat of the disease, because I am convinced of their utility when opened on some part of the chest; but the evidence of the French practitioners is so positive, that they certainly merit a trial, when, as in the preceding case, the case to which we have alluded,) it becomes difficult to keep them open in their original situation.'

The miserable and melancholy farce of sending patients, in a hopeless state of disease, away from the comforts of home and from the society of friends, in order to die secundum artem, at Madeira, Bristol Hotwells, or some other place that shall be famed for the resort, but falsely famed for the cure, of consumptive invalids, requires less reprehension in the present day than formerly, because it is not so much had recourse to. Removal from one country or county to another, may in some cases, pre

vent, but it never ean cure, confirmed consumption; and the principal advantage which the change promises, even in the way of prevention, is, we believe, resolvable principally into the comparative regularity of temperature which the new climate may ensure; so that those whose circumstances are not equal to the desired removal, may, with satisfaction, reflect, that a great deal of the benefit may be obtained without any removal at all.

The south of Europe is the general place of resort for consumptive invalids; but our Author thinks the excessive warmth of these parts, during the hot months, may accelerate the fatal termination of the disease. For such invalids, the south or south east coast of Spain, offers the most desirable winter residence; and Valencia,' he says, 'is the particular spot "I should select. A voyage to Ital, in a vessel bound to Leghorn, and wintering at Pisa, have been highly recommended by a celebrated female writer.' She is of opinion that Nice, Massa, Florence, Rome, Naples, are all inferior to Pisa, which last, indeed, she thinks the best place that Europe offers to the consumptive invalid. The proper season is from the beginning of October, to the end of April. This opinion we extract from a very admirable treatise on pulmonary consumption to be found in "Dr. Thomas's Modern Practice of Physic."

We have now almost done with Dr. Southey. At the end of his treatise, he resumes the discussion which he had before touched upon, respecting Dr. Wills's notion of the salubrity, in respect to consumptive affection, of those districts where ague abounds. Dr. Wills, indeed, has carried this notion so far as to suggest the propriety of sending persons who are threatened with phthisis, into districts where agues prevail.' This, opinion, however, we think is proved by our Author to be fallacious; and he has favoured us with communications which make greatly against the hypothesis, from two respectable physicians, who, from their locality, are well entitled to be umpires of the question.

In the letter of Dr. Hendy, of Chelmsford, though it was short, we were gratified in recognising the same manly tone and scientific decision, which, years ago, we had pleasure in observing, although then, as well as now, under a veil.

We had proceeded thus far in our remarks, when the pamphlet of Dr. Sutton was put into our hands, entitled, "Letters addressed to His Royal Highness the Duke of ent, on Consumption." these letters are for the purpose of proving the impropriety of the project above alluded to, for ensuring an equality of temperature in the apartments of consumptive patients: We have read them, we hope, with candour;