pulfe was reduced to 110 ftrokes in the minute; and her delirium was much abated. Directions were given to repeat the clyfters, and to fupply the patient liberally with wine. These means were affiduously purfued feveral days; and the young woman was fo recruited by the 28th, that the injections were discon. tinued. She was now quite rational, and not averse to medicine. A decoction of Peruvian bark was therefore prescribed, by the ufe of which she speedily recovered her health.

I might add a third history of a putrid disease, in which the mephitic air is now under trial, and which affords the strongest proof both of the antifeptic, and of the tonic powers of this remedy; but as the issue of the cafe remains yet undetermined (though it is highly probable, alas! that it will be fatal) I shall relate only a few particulars of it. Mafter D. a boy of about twelve years of age, endowed with an uncommon capacity, and with the most amiable difpofitions, has laboured many months under a hectic fever, the confequence of feveral tumors in different parts of his body. Two of these tumors were laid open by Mr. White, and a large quantity of purulent matter was discharged from them. The wounds were very properly treated by this skilful furgeon, and every fuitable remedy, which my best judgment could fuggeft, was affiduoufly adminiftered. But the matter became fanious, of a brown colour, and highly putrid. A Diarrhea fucceeded; the patient's ftools were intolerably offensive, and voided without his knowledge. A black fur collected about his teeth; his tongue was covered with Aphtha; and his breath was fo fœtid, as fcarcely to be endured. His ftrength was almost ex

L

haufted; a fubfultus tendinum came on; and the final period of his fufferings feemed to be rapidly approaching. As a laft, but almoft hopeless, effort, I advised the injection of clyfters and mephitic air. Thefe foon corrected the fœtor of the patient's ftools; reftrained his Diarrhea; and feemed to recruit his strength and fpirits. Within the fpace of twenty-four hours his wounds affumed a more favourable appearance; the matter difcharged from them became of a better colour and confiftence; and was no longer so offensive to the fmell. The ufe of this remedy has been continued feveral days, but is now laid afide. A large tumor is fuddenly formed under the right ear; fwallowing is rendered difficult and painful; and the patient refufes all food and medicine. Nourishing clyfters are directed; but it is to be feared that these will renew the looseness, and that this amiable youth will quickly fink under his disorder *.

The ufe of wort from its faccharine quality, and difpofition to ferment, has lately been proposed as a remedy for the SEA SCURVY. Water, or other liquors, already abounding with fixed air in a separate ftate, fhould feem to be better adapted to this purpose; as they will more quickly correct the putrid difpofition of the fluids, and at the fame time, by their gentle ftimulus + increafe the powers of digeftion, and give new ftrength to the whole system.

He languished about a week, and then died.

The vegetables which are most efficacious in the cure of the fcur vy, poffefs fome degree of a ftimulating power.

Dr.

Dr. Priestley, who fuggefted both the idea and the means of executing it, has under the fanction of the College of Phyficians proposed the scheme to the Lords of the Admiralty, who have ordered trial to be made of it on board some of his Majefty's fhips of war. Might it not however give additional efficacy to this remedy, if inftead of fimple water, the infusion of malt were to be employed?

I am perfuaded fuch a medicinal drink might be prefcribed alfo with great advantage in SCROPHULOUS COMPLAINTS, when not attended with a hectic fever; and in other disorders in which a general acrimony prevails, and the crafis of the blood is deftroyed. Under fuch circumftances, I have feen vibices which fpread over the body, difappear in a few days from the ufe of wort.

A gentleman who is subject to a scorbutic eruption in his face, for which he has used a variety of reme dies with no very beneficial effect, has lately applied the fumes of chalk and oil of vitriol to the parts affected. The operation occafions great itching and pricking in the skin, and fome degree of drowsiness, but evidently abates the ferous discharge, and diminishes the eruption. This patient has feveral fymptoms which indicate a genuine fcorbutic DIATHESIS and it is probable that fixed air, taken internally, would be an useful medicine in this cafe.

The faline draughts of Riverius are fuppofed to owe their antiemetic effects to the air, which is feparated from the falt of wormwood during the act of effervefcence. And the tonic powers of many mineral

waters

waters feem to depend on this principle. I was lately defired to vifit a lady who had most severe convulfive REACHINGS. Various remedies had been admini. ftered without effect, before I faw her. She earnestly defired a draught of malt liquor, and was indulged with half a pint of Burton beer in brisk effervescence. The vomitings ceafed immediately, and returned no more. Fermenting liquors, it is well known, abound with fixed air. To this, and to the cordial quality of the beer, the favourable effect which it produced, may justly be ascribed. But I fhall exceed my defign by enlarging farther on this fubject. What has been advanced it is hoped, will fuffice to excite the attention of physicians to a remedy which is capable of being applied to fo many important medicinal purpofes,

NUMBER IV.

Extract of a Letter from WILLIAM FALCONER, M. D. of BATH.

Reverend Sir,

Jan. 6, 1774

I once obferved the fame tafte you mention (Philofophical Transactions, p. 156. of this Volume, p. 35.) viz. like tar water, in fome water that I impregnated with fixed air about three years ago. I did not then know to what to attribute it, but your experiment feems to clear it up. I happened to have spent all my acid for raifing effervescence, and to supply its place I used a bottle of dulcified fpirit of nitre, which I knew was greatly under-faturated with fpirit of wine:

from

from which, as analogous to your obfervation, I imagine the effect proceeded.

As * to the coagulation of the blood of animals by fixed air, I fear it will fcarce ftand the teft of experi ment, as I this day gave it, I think, a fair trial, in the following manner,

A young healthy man, at 20 years old, received á contufion by a fall, was inftantly carried to a neighbouring furgeon, and, at my requeft, bled in the following manner.

I inferted a glass funnel into the neck of a large clear phial about 3x. contents, and bled him into it to about viii. By these means the blood was exposed to the air as little a time as poffible, as it flowed into the bottle as it came from the orifice.

As foon as the quantity propofed was drawn, the bottle was carefully corked, and brought to me. It was then quite fluid, nor was there the least separation of its parts.

On the furface of this I conveyed feveral ftreams of fixed air (having firft placed the bottle with the blood in a bowl of water, heated as nearly to the human heat as poffible) from the mixture of the vitriolic acid and lixiv. tartar, which I use preferably to other alka

This refers to an experiment mentioned in the first publication of thefe papers in the Philofophical Tranfactions, but omitted in this voJume.