recourse to a purge of castor oil; the galvanic excitement frequently repeated from the 1st to the 29th August, with the occasional aid of rhubarb and the carbonate of soda, fully restored the tone of the stomach, produced a regular action of the liver and bowels, without any aperient medicine whatever, and the strength of the ancle joints was regained, without having recourse to the local application of the airpump vapour-bath. The benefit obtained by Mr. F. was not a transient one. For several months after he left me, I received a letter from him, giving me the pleasing information that his digestive functions were quite restored, and the liver and bowels had been brought into perfect regularity, that his gouty pains had altogether left him, and that he had continued to enjoy a robust state of health. I have also recently seen. him in town, and have lately heard from him, confirming his continued enjoyment of health and strength. May 19, 1821.

Case 2.-A gentleman about thirty years of age, the patient of an eminent physician in full practice in town, was recommended to me on the 10th of June, 1820. His case was one which excited considerable interest, as he had for more than ten years suffered extremely from a torpor of the liver and constipation of bowels. The stomach too had been in a state of chronic inflammation, and the whole train of dyspeptic symptoms was experienced by the patient from time to time. The tongue was white and furred, pulse low and slow, extremities exceedingly cold, and the skin constricted and irritable; every thing that medicine and diet could do, had been tried without any benefit; he had also made several long voyages for the removal of his complaint, but without success. The first application of galvanism produced immediate benefit. This remedy was repeated for three weeks with the greatest advantage; purgatives were discontinued after the first week, as the biliary secretions and a regular state of the bowels were effected by galvanic agency. At the end of this short period, the patient desisted from the use of this beneficial remedy, went into the country for a month, and then returned to town in a state of perfect health. From too great corporeal and mental exertion, and a change of habit by no means favourable to the re-establishment of health, and exposure to cold, brought on a slight obstruction of the bowels. He then called on me again, and was induced to employ the galvanism for a few days, which fully restored the tone of his digestive organs, and he now continues to enjoy perfect health. As the recovery of the patient has been effected by the mode in which I employed the galvanism, the fact of its singular efficacy is one of the greatest importance to nervous and bilious invalids. I shall be happy to refer any respectable patient to the physician, under whose immediate observation this took place, for the confirmation of what I have here stated, that the galvanism has effected the cure of a chronic liver complaint of ten years' continuance, after the failure of mercurial remedies repeatedly tried in all its various forms.

Case S.-An extraordinary case of recent occurrence, in which the medical powers of galvanism in the derangement of the stomach has effected remarkable recovery, I shall here briefly detail. On the 1st May, 1821, a married lady of rank and fortune who had from her childhood laboured under dyspeptic affections, and disordered respira

tion, was sent to me by her medical attendant for a trial of galvanism, after the failure of every medical means for the removal of her stomach complaint. This patient had been for five months labouring under Anasarca Dropsy, the digestive organs were in a state of the greatest disorder, the stomach could retain no food, she had for some time constantly vomited every thing she ate, and even toast and water could no longer be retained. The alvine secretions indicated the total absence of biliary action. The tongue was foul, the pulse quick and feeble, and the whole system seemed to be sinking under the accumulated load of disease; nausea, vomiting and faintness, with restlessness and paroxysms of acute pain in the limbs, were the urgent symptoms of which she complained. From the state of the patient, I did not entertain any hope that the galvanism would be productive of advantage, neither did her medical adviser recommend it, but as an experiment which would gratify the anxious friends of the patient. However, I am happy to add we were mistaken in the estimation we had formed of the galvanic agency in restoring the vital energy of that important organ, the stomach. After the first application of galvanism, the lady immediately felt greatly relieved, the vomiting ceased, she was enabled to retain her food. The second application having removed nausea, she ate with appetite, and digested her food. After the third application she slept soundly and was refreshed by rest, the bowels became active, she no longer had any faintness, was enabled to take carriage exercise for several hours in the day without fatigue, and the subsequent few visits I made her, at her own house, have afforded me the greatest pleasure in observing the extraordinary good effects of the galvanic influence in restoring the tone of the stomach and bowels, and producing a rapid recovery of the digestive organs without the aid of any medicine whatever. I am also happy to add, that her dropsical affection is yielding fast to the judicious remedies employed by her medical attendant, who is one of the first practitioners in the west end of the town.

Three interesting cases of the successful employment of galvanism in Gutta Serena, shall be given in our next number.

BILIOUS COMPLAINTS, &c.-Since the publication of our last number, we have received no less than four books on bilious complaints, one by Dr. Ayre, of Hull; one by Dr. Philip, late Physician to the Worcester Infirmary; one by a Mr. Hare, of London, who styles himself a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, in London, F.L.S. &c.; and one by a Dr. Jackson; and also, notices of two works being in the press, on derangements of the liver, internal organs, and nervous complaints, by the learned Dr. Jordan, of London, and Dr. Solomon, of Birmingham.

In our review of the learned Doctor James Johnson's Treatise on Derangements of the Liver, &c. the Doctor has accused us of having intentionally neglected to notice his improved mode of treating the diseases, on which he has treated;-before we enter on analyses of the works of which we have received copies, we shall therefore conclude our remarks on Doctor Johnson's eight and sixpenny book. Although the work is entitled a Treatise on "Derangements of the Liver," the author commences with affections of the viscera of the chest. ALL inflammatory affections of the lungs," says the learned Doctor,

"nature ATTEMPTS the cure by expectoration; but in the severer cases she is seldom successful; for besides that the discharge is inefficient, the cough and fever attending this process are harassing and dangerous to the patient, who seldom escapes without consequences resulting from this natural attempt at a cure, which lay the foundation of future illness"!!! This quotation is a very fair specimen of this learned author's literary talents, and his CLEAR mode of expressing his practical ideas. To the ignorant, who cannot see beyond three words, it may indeed convey a wonderful idea of the author's profound learning, but is there in the profession, a man, who would not throw this eight and sixpenny book behind the fire, or would proceed one line further, after reading such contemptible jargon? "Consequences resulting from this natural attempt at cure"!!

Now in the works of Drs. Solomon, Brodum, Lambert, Eady, or any other physician, with or without an honorary diploma, is there any thing so truly absurd, so truly ridiculous? The learned gentleman then states that " pneumonia may be cured by bleeding, without expectorations"!!! Now under the head of pneumonia, modern nosologists comprehend inflammation of the viscera of the chest. In cases of inflammation of the external membrane of the lungs, termed pleurisy, or even of the cellular substance of the lungs, the cough is always dry for many days after the first attack, and, therefore, if the inflammation be resolved by bleeding, no expectoration will or can ensue. In such cases, expectoration is the consequence of extension of the disease, to the membranous lining of the bronchia. We presume the learned Doctor means peripneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), and, if so, our observations equally apply to it." In recovering from acute diseases, but particularly from one, where so important an organ as the lungs has suffered," says this sapient gentleman or physician, "the greatest presence of mind is necessary to restrain the patient's appetite, which almost invariably exceeds the power of digestion, and produces a tendency to the febrile disease"!!!

"But this is not all; blood is formed in such abundance by the new supply of food that the excrements are not adequate to keep a proper equilibrium in the circulation, hence," says he," the slightest degree of plethora is apt to oppress the weakened organ, and relapse is the consequence. This caution," proceeds the learned Doctor, "cannot be too strongly impressed on the practitioner's mind, since any sanction he may give to the solicitations of the patient, or friends, will certainly be remembered when the sinister occurrence takes place"!!!

To our medical readers, an apology is necessary for making such ridiculous quotations; but we hope, on considering the primary objects of our publication, viz. exposure of quackery, &c. they will not suppose that we have any intention to insult their understanding. If an apology they expect, the only one we can offer is, that the learned author has published his work professedly for the information of the medical profession, and that he declares himself to be competent to the task of analysing medical works, and, for this purpose, has absolutely instituted a chiro-medical review, to which some medical men subscribe!!!!

Every practitioner of observation is aware, that patients afflicted with inflammation of the lungs have no inclination to eat; and even when in

a state of convalescence, if they should take more than the stomach will digest, a disorder of that organ is more likely to ensue than a degree of plethora capable of inducing indammation in the lungs. A relapse is generally the consequence of exposure to air, or the imprudent use of vinous or spirituous liquors. The most ignoraut old woman knows, that to produce plethora, the quantity of food taken into the stomach must be properly, digested; and if the stomach be not equal to it, how can plethora follow? In the treatment of asthma, the learned Doctor says, " our grand dependence is on laudanum, ether, camphor, assafoetida, valerian, and antimonials, or ipecacuanha, to encourage expectoration. I can speak," says he," from observation, that opium is in general given with too sparing a hand, as well as ether, camphor, &c."!!! Now, will any medical man say, after reading the above observation, that the author ever attended a case of asthma? The treatment of a fit of asthma depends on the state of the constitution. If general debility prevails, the legs oedematous, and the stomach disordered, what would be the effect of a large dose of opium? It would indeed, in our humble opinion, soon terminate the paroxysm; and the patient, instead of expectorating, would soon expire. If, on the contrary, the patient should be in a plethoric state, (in which case, the vessels of the brain are always overloaded, in consequence of the constricted state of the lungs, or compressed state of the viscera of the chest retarding the flow of blood from the head), what would be the effect of a large dose of opium? Would it not produce fatal apoplexy? As to opium promoting expectoration in asthma, every asthmatic knows that it has uniformly a contrary effect. In the treatment of pulmonary consumption, this observant and learned Physician asserts," that pure air and elevated situations are JUDICIOUS, and that those who live in marshes (low situations) where hydrogen abounds, are not so subject to consumptions"!!! In marshy countries, and in elevated situations, consumption prevails, as much as in any part of Europe. In marshy countries they are indeed more frequent than in any other. "As to the various remedies which have acquired an ephemeral reputation, only to disappear like wave succeeding wave, it is needless," says he, "to name them.

"Foxglove and inflammable gas are recent examples; and as to the Prussic acid and vapour of tar, they have evaporated into air, thin air"!!! Now, by whom has hydrogen been recommended for consumption? The case is, the author knows no more of air or pneumatic chemistry, than an apothecary's errand boy, who generally pretends to be acquainted with medicine; and as to the other articles, they have been recommended only as auxiliaries, and not as specifics, and that they are valuable auxiliaries, no medical man of experience will deny.

"Disorders of the stomach," the erudite author states, "produce such LESION of FUNCTIONS in the other digestive organs, particularly the liver and INTESTINES, that some remedial as well as preventive measures are necessary"!!!-Lesion of functions!!! now it is clear, by this expression, that the learned gentleman or physician, who is very partial to scraps of Latin, is absolutely unacquainted with either the meaning of the word lesion, or that of function-so much then for his knowledge of the Latin language, from which these words are derived. The remedies for disorders of stomach, lesion of functions, &c. he pro

ceeds, "chiefly consist in evacuations and tonics, alternated and combined"!! On this mode of treating disorders of the stomach, we need not trouble ourselves to make an observation, for our non-medical readers must be aware that such disorders arise from opposite causes, and are attended with opposite states of the system. The learned Doctor would have been an excellent witness for his equally learned brother practitioner, Dr. Rymer, proprietor of the Cardiac Tincture, a remedy for disorders of the stomach, &c. in his late action against us for a libel on that nostrum.

Treatment of Diarrhoea, (Looseness.)-" Suppose," says the erudite Doctor, "a man applies to you with the usual symptoms of diarrhea. If you find the complaint has not been of long duration, that he has no febrile symptoms about HIM, and that he does not labour under any organic disease, you may order him to confine himself to the house for a day or two, to clothe himself WELL, to eat few vegetables, and to take the following mixture:

Take of Aromatic confection, one drachm;

Cretaceous mixture, four ounces;

Tincture of opium, a fluid drachm;

"After

Compound tincture of cardamoms, two drachms; Mix. Two large spoonsful to be taken after every liquid motion"!! two or three doses of this medicine the diarrhoea will stop. By this practice," says he, "I have cured hundreds of bowel complaints, and that in a few hours, while the very same description of diarrhoeas were kept protracted under cure for two or three weeks by the routine practice of opiates and purgatives, combined or alternated"!!! Hence the learned Doctor has really out-solomoned Dr. Solomon himself!!

To have recourse to an opiate with an aromatic, is the practice of all old women, and we may venture to say that there is not a medical man in this country, of one year's experience, who has not witnessed the bad effects of it. No cautious practitioner would attempt to check diarrhoea on its commencement; it is very seldom, if ever, a primary disease, and the sudden checking of it has been followed by the most serious affections of the head, chest, and intestines. "Many hundreds" of lives have been destroyed by this inconsiderate treatment.

Cholera morbus." The idea," says the Doctor," is fast gaining ground, that most diseases may be referred to two primary classes, viz. those of function and those of structure”! ! ! He is satisfied that "it is proved that functional will end in structural disease, over which we have very little power or control"!!! Now every practitioner, acquainted with the progress of organic disease, knows that it will continue creeping on for some time in the substance of an organ, without disturbing its functions.

The idea of two primary classes of diseases may have gained ground among SOME NAVY surgeons, but in the minds of practitioners nothing so contemptibly ridiculous has yet entered. On the treatment of this disease, the learned author states, that "experience has taught him that the practice of Sydenham, Cullen, and most authors on their authority, of administering warm water or chamomile tea at the beginning, till the offending bile is all cleared away, is not only erroneous but injurious, for the ingurgitation of warm fluids promotes the inordinate secre