rheumatism. Thomas uses it but in combination with nitre. I have seen it prescribed by Dr. Duncan, in the Infirmary of Edinburgh, in several cases, with the most favourable results, while in others, with an aggravation of the disease, altogether depending on the stage of the disease and the habit of body in which it was administered. It is the want of attention to these particularly, and the want of discrimination on the part of the prescriber, that has led to these different and opposite results that have been noticed by practical writers. When the disease is attended with the symptoms of active inflammation and general excitement, the bark as well as other stimuli, must be injurious. But there are cases wherein local inflammatory symptoms may be continued after the general excitement is taken off, that is, partial excitement continues. The effect of increased sensibility of the part, attended with a small pulse, cool or cold extremities, and the general powers of the system greatly impaired and reduced by the depletion the patient has undergone. Thus we often see a headache, a sore throat, an inflamed eye, or other local affection, are sometimes thus continued, that is, by the stimulus of relaxation, as Mr. Hunter calls it; in other words, irritability or susceptibility, which is only relieved by tonics and stimulants that shall distribute the excitement throughout the system, and which at the same time shall diminish the sensibility of the part affected; so of rheumatism. There are cases where stimuli are especially useful in this way; and in like manner, there are cases where the sensibility of frame is such that even the whole arterial system shall partake of it, and a degree of fever be produced that as in typhus, hectic, scarlatina, and other fevers, is only to be counteracted by stimuli and tonics. In such cases the bark may diminish both pain and fever, by imparting tone to the system, and thereby lessening sensibility which is frequently the accompaniment of weakness. In cases of this nature, however, much discernment and practical observation are required to know when the depletion is to be persisted in or tonics and stimuli are to be administered.

The diet should be the strictest abstinence during the synochal stage of rheumatism. No animal food in any shape-on the contrary, a cool, spare diet; milk whey, buttermilk, ripe fruits, gruel panada, rice, &c. I have known the obstinacy of patients and their friends, in this disease, by the use of ani mal food, to render all that had been done of no avail, by the excitement being renewed by the use of animal food. Diluents-mineral waters. Regimen-do not load the patient with great quantities of clothing, or bedding. Flannel or

cotton next the skin are assuredly necessary and proper; but great care to avoid abuse as to their quantity.

We now proceed to notice that form of rheumatism which is called chronic, the arthrodynia of Dr. Cullen. For the most part, as already observed, this is usually the consequence of preceding attacks of the acute or inflammatory rheumatism; and is continued as the effect of great sensibility of the part, and of the whole system. In some cases the secretions are checked, accompanied with a slight degree of fever. Aged persons thus are frequently affected by pain connected with some febrile symptoms induced by a constriction of the surface, or perhaps by debility in the extreme vessels. Not unfrequently, too, they are the effect of local injuries, as violent exertions, falls, strains, or bruises of the muscles or joints, to which the aged are particularly exposed. In those cases, mild evacuations by the bowels and the use of some diaphoretics will be at first proper; but as soon as fever is altogether removed, as in the last stage of acute rheumatism, stimuli are called for, especially such as are calculated to preserve an open state of the surface of the body. The Peruvian bark is had recourse to by some, bitters by others; chalybeates, in the form of chalybeate waters, or iron in substance; given in the tinct. volatile 3 ii. ter in die in milk, decoction of the woods, with camphor. R. guiac 3vj., camphor 3i., opii. 3ij., tart. emet. 3i. M. divide in pill 120-two to be given three times a day. Turpentine in form of the oil 31.-3. of honey, a teaspoonful occasionally. Local stimulantsplasters, the emp. calidum, pix burgund., tart. emet. ointment, the Hungarian plaster. Liniments-soap lin. with aq. ammon. aa. ij., turpentine, essence of mustard, stramonium ointment, spirituous baths, hot baths-106° Fahrenheit-friction with flesh brush, flannel. This was constantly the practice of the Greeks and Romans; the Chinese, too, in health, to prevent disease. The Emperor Augustus, it is said, was so completely curried that his skin exhibited the effects of the instrument. Flannel shirts,* bandages, rollers, knee cap. (See Balfour on bandages in rheumatism. Med. Repertory, vol. 6. p. 19.) A slight mercurial action in the system is recommended by Bedingfield, by giving calomel Di. twice a week. The dracontium foetidum, or the skunk cabbage, is advised by Dr. Thatcher, in his medical practice; of the dried root he administers xx. or xxx. grains, three or four times a

*A flannel shirt, Dr. Gregory used to tell us, was worth half a dozen of any other remedies in this disease.

day, or an infusion of it. Phytolacca decandra, or poke weed, has been recommended, in the form of an extract from the leaves, or of a tincture of the leaves. Tinct. colchicum is also advised.

The diet should be generous, such as wine-whey, porter, animal food. Condiments, as mustard-seed, horse-radish, cayenne, &c.

REGIMEN.

Let the dress be flannel, frequently changed; exercise, especially a journey. If confined to a chamber, the dumb bell, that is, a mass of metal with a rope fastened to it and passing it over a pulley, pulling it up and down, as in ringing a bell.

If we have been hitherto silent in relation to the style of these "Lectures," it is not because we regard the style of scientific and professional writings as a matter of indifference. Far otherwise. Though we should condemn the overloading of such works with labored and powerful decorations of expression, we have yet to be informed of any good reason, why they should not be written as purely and chastely, as correctly and perspicuously, as other forms of composition. Why should matters of history, poetry, and moral fiction be presented to the public eye, decked out in all the beauties and decorations of language and imagery; and the still more important matters of science and profession Le brought forward, covered with apparel that can scarcely be called decent? We are not unacquainted with the reasons assigned for this difference; but to us they are unsatisfactory. We think that science not only deserves, but demands a style both sound and clear, classical and vigorous.

Without pronouncing the style of the "Lectures " peculiarly faulty, we are warranted in saying that it is equally remote from being unusually creditable. Though we do not call it either vulgar or obscure; it is coarse, crude, and far from being definite. The words employed in it are neither

tastefully selected, nor judiciously collocated. The writer would seem to have been too much engrossed by the language of the Greeks and Romans, to have bestowed the requisite attention on his own-much more anxious to be accounted a profound Greek and Latin, than a well-disciplined Belles Letters scholar. And we regret to say, that this is too generally the case, with all vain-glorious votaries of the dead languages. And it is all wrong, instead of a mere smattering of Greek and Latin (and none of us acquires, or can acquire more,) the true glory of American scholarship consists in a thorough scientific knowledge, and practical command, of the unequalled resources of the Anglo-Saxon tongue.

C. C.

ART. XV.-The Medical Examiner. Edited by J. B. BIDDLE, M. D., M. CLYMER, M. D., and W. W. GEHHARD, M. D., Philadelphia.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. A concentrated record of Medical Science and Literature. By RoвELEY DUNGLISON, M. D., M. A. P. S. Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and Materia Medica in Jefferson Medical College, Attending physician to Philadelphia Hospital, and Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philidelphia,

&c. &c.

We have no wish to come into collision, or to engage in any sort of controversy, with the conductors of these two interesting Periodicals. On the contrary, it is our earnest desire to preserve peace and live in harmony and good fellowship with all writers, as far as we can do so, consistently with the decision of our judgment, and the dictates of our conscience-but

no farther.

Neither jot nor tittle of what we believe to be true and useful will we sacrifice, in any case, on the alter of Concord; because such an act, culpable in principle, and mischievous in tendency, is forbidden by the mandate of a superior Deity.

In our reviews of works of every description, however high and imposing may be their authorship, and whatever degree of favour they may have found elsewhere, we shall express our sentiments freely and fearlessly, without intending to give offence, but regardless of such offence as may be causelessly taken. Nor do we know any good reason why our Atlantic brethren should take exception at us for thinking differently from them respecting works, opinions, or doctrines in medicine, any more than why they should find fault with us, because we choose to reside on the west, while they prefer the east side of the Allegheny mountains. And we beg leave to assure them, that their dissatisfaction on either or each of these points will neither detract from the amount of our waking enjoyments, nor from the soundness of our repose. Worse still; it will not even convince us that our opinions are groundless.

If they wish to reclaim us from error, they must condescend to reason with us. By dictation and censure they will gain nothing but our calm disregard.

These remarks have been drawn from us, by the manner in which our review of the late Professor Hosack's "Lectures," in the first number of this Journal, have been noticed by the two Journals, whose titles form the heading of this article. In this reference we allude more especially to the style and spirit of the notice contained in tne "American Medical Library and Intelligencer," which is neither courteous nor manly; and which, as far as it has any meaning, "means mischief." But more of this presently.