plied by much exertion and labour, become jealous of every attempt to circumscribe their rights, or whatever has a tendency to prevent the exercise of their faculties in the way that is of most advantage to themselves. In this point of view, the high temperature of a climate may be said to have an indirect effect in blunting the faculties of the mind, while that of a cold country will tend to rouse them ; but, from the foregoing observations, we cannot discover how it should have such an influence in any other way.

"From these remarks, it will likewise be better understood why despotism, so destructive in general to mankind, operates in a peculiarly baneful manner upon the inhabitants of a cold country."

In vol. ii. p. 259, he observes, "there is a sprightliness of character and a luxuriancy of imagination peculiar to men inhabiting a warm climate, which probably increase in approaching the tropics. The grandeur and sublimity of expression of eastern nations, have been the subject of admiration in every age. The elegance and freedom of manners of certain people of warm climates, and the lively disposition of those tribes who are not under the necessity of submitting to the rod of tyranny, either religious or political, have given rise to descriptions of manners more romantic and sublime, than are to be met with in any other language. The French have a predominant character at present, in these respects, above every other European nation; but there is the written evidence of former times to convince us, that the neighbouring nations of Italy and Spain excelled them in liveliness of manners, before the introduction of certain religious customs amongst them; and since that period, these people have gradually become so grave, that the Spaniards of the present day are not exceeded in sedateness of deportment by the most phlegmatic nations of the most northerly climates. Taking all these circumstances under review, it must appear that the commonly supposed effects of a higher temperature of the atmosphere on the active powers, has no direct influence in abating their energy; on the contrary, from the facts we have adduced, it seems rather probable, that, in a free, religious, and political state, the warmth of a climate tends to quicken the faculties, and to render them more energetic; indeed, without these advantages, man will become indolent in every country, and that too in the greatest degree where the medium temperature of the air is lowest.

In proceeding upon the question of contagion, which, we may observe, has not been specifically treated of since Fracastorius' essay on this subject, Dr. Robertson commences by an investigation to determine how far certain epidemic diseases, as the plague and typhus, are propagated by contagion; and, after a full discussion of the question, he comes to the following conclusions:

"1stly, It has been ascertained that no change of the ordinary physical or chemical properties of the atmosphere takes place in countries, during the prevalence of pestilential diseases. 2dly, The occurrence of epidemics is not prevented by the succession of seasons, nor by remarkable changes of weather; the plague, typhus, and other epidemics, having been observed to prevail for years,

No. 79.]

Epilepsy and Palsy.

189

without suffering any abatement of their virulence. 3dly, That although it be admitted that some of the most malignant species of epidemics arise from causes that are not originally of a contagious nature, yet this circumstance appears to be already sufficiently explained, as being the consequence of the malignant nature of those causes, having previously propagated a disease, which, in it course, has generated a matter, capable of producing a certain definite train of symptoms, at any distance from its original source; and it is owing to this peculiar circumstance, that it is frequently observed that the diseases, occasioned by contagion, very often do not resemble those in type, by which the contagious matter had been originally produced."

This doctrine the author has elucidated in several subsequent papers, written by him, on the plague and yellow fever of the Mediterranean. The latter, he is decidedly of opinion, is always dependent on local causes for its origin; on the other hand, he supposes that, although the plague is occasionally produced by a concurrence of local causes, in every case it spreads by the means of contagious matter, and is therefore propagated beyond its original source, but which never happens in the case of yellow fever. By a minute detail of facts, the doctor very ably refutes the idea of the property of the atmosphere in propagating contagion, which he seems inclined to suppose must have a different tendency during the prevalence of such diseases. "Had the power of the atmosphere, either as generating or propagating contagion, been considerable," the doctor thinks," epidemic diseases must have been more frequent; and it does not," says he, "appear possible that, in these circumstances, any natural means could have been suggested, of ever getting rid of them, when once generated, and this world must, of course, have presented a barren untenanted surface."

After going fully into the subject of contagion, he proceeds to the discussion of the nature of the fluid, and of the manner by which it is introduced into the system, the different opinions upon which are brought fully before the reader; and having, with Dr. Currie, and some others, denied an absorbent power to the skin in a healthy state, our author infers that contagious vapours operate upon the system, through the medium of the lungs. He also seems inclined to think that its effects are more immediate after admission, than what has been hitherto supposed, and from which a modification of our quarantine regulations may he proposed. The work is evidently the production of a man of observation and experience. It was published some years ago at Edinburgh, and is there much better known than in this country; and we take much blame to ourselves that we have been thus tardy in bringing it under the notice of our readers, to whom we now recommend it, as containing all that is known on the important subjects it embraces.

EPILEPSY AND PALSY.-The Editors of the Philadelphia Journal have published a paper on the efficacy of the nitrate of silver, in the cure of epilepsy, from the pen of the Chevalier Sementine.

After some remarks on the difficulty which occurs in treating

such cases, and the good effects which have been observed in using the nitrate of silver, and its superiority in this respect over all other remedies, both as to the effect it produces, and the little inconvenience it causes, the Chevalier states: "To secure the good effects belonging to it, the nitrate of silver should be well triturated with a vegetable extract, in combination with which it should be given; that the first doses should be small, and the quantity gradually increased to six or eight grains, or even more, in a day; that the use should not be continued very long together; and that the patient should keep out of the action of light. The latter precaution is necessary to prevent the discoloration of the skin, which sometimes happens after a long and copious use of this remedy. This precaution, however, only relates to the rays of the meridian sun.

It frequently happens, during the use of this medicine, that a species of cutaneous eruption, consisting of small pustules, occurs. This may be regarded as a certain proof of the good effects of the medicine.

In the early part of this paper, the Chevalier, in endeavouring to remove the prejudice existing against nitrate of silver, on account of its poisonous qualities, remarks, that, being mixed with vegetable extract, is not really the salt, but the oxyde, that is given; and therefore the observations of M. Orfila, on the nitrate, as a poison, have nothing to do with the power of the remedy. At the same time, as an argument for using the nitrate in place of the oxyde, the Chevalier asserts, that, at the moment of decomposition, a combination is effected between the extract and the oxyde; and that, actually, the salt is found more efficacious.

Being satisfied of the beneficial effects of nitrate of silver in epileptic affections, and reasoning on its supposed tonic powers, the Chevalier was induced to give it a trial in palsy. The first instance quoted is of a gilder, who, he thinks, from the fumes of mercury, had become very paralytic. He commenced with an eighth of a grain of the nitrate of silver, and increased the dose every other day; and by the time three grains were taken, the good effects were evident, aud in twenty days more the man was perfectly cured. In another instance, every part of the body and limbs were paralysed except the head; a small quantity was given at first, but it was increased to eight grains per day, and it effected a cure. Three other instances are then adduced, in all of which cures were effected; and the Chevalier expresses his hopes, that in the hands of other medical men it will be found as efficacious as in his own.

We lately met with a lady who had been subject to fainting fits, for which she took the nitrate of silver some months under the direction of Dr. Baillie. In a few weeks, the skin, which was previously very fair, became very dark; the remedy was continued, and in a few weeks more the skin exhibited the appearance of that of a negro, which continues, although she has not taken the medicine for the last six years. This effect is on the rete mucosa, and not on the cuticle, as generally imagined; for, on destroying the cuticle by a blister or caustic, the colour is the same after the reproduction of cuticle. The remedy had no effect on her malady.

No. 79.]

Diabetes.

191

DIABETES.-Dr. Trotter, of Newcastle, has published five cases of this disease, to illustrate the beneficial effects of pure magnesia, (well calcined magnesia,) in its cure. We select the two in which its operation was most decisive, and which we give in his own words.

Case 1st.-J. H. aged fifty, a married woman, applied to me in November, 1821. She was tormented with thirst; drank eight quarts of water, and made eight quarts of urine in a day, of a peculiar smell, which grew frothy in a short time, and was quite like sugar to the taste. She was losing flesh, though she had a great appetite, and found herself growing weak. These complaints began about six months ago. She was ordered to take a drachm and a half of magnesia in twenty-four hours, which quickly opened her bowels, and the thirst ceased on the third evening; the water, at the same time, changed its taste and appearance, and the appetite became natural. The medicine was continued a week or ten days, and her health seemed quite restored, though her relatives had at first looked upon her case as deplorable."

Case 2d.-" A young woman, a servant, aged twenty-two. The disease commenced two years ago. She came to me in January last, and was considerably reduced. Having no relations, she was compelled to remain at service, but had now a humane mistress, who was kind to her, and, by a little charity from her physician, she was enabled to buy her medicine. The drink was about eight quarts in twenty-four hours; the urine rather more, sweet as honey, and of a frothy quality; the appetite voracious, and the bowels slow; the skin dry, and the thirst constant night and day; the menses disappeared seven months ago. The magnesia, to the amount of two drachms in the day, was immediately begun, and on the second day the thirst declined, and next day the urine fell to three quarts, and nearly natural in taste and smell. The appetite, also, was less keen, and the bowels profusely loose. In a week or two she found her strength greatly improved, and can now go through her work without feeling fatigued. There is, as yet, no appearance of the menses. Indeed, a complaint of such a nature, continuing for so long a time, could not fail to make serious inroads upon the constitution; and when it arrives at a certain point, there can be no recovery. The quantity of urine is now two pints, and sufficiently saline; but, though diabetes may not return, there is still some doubt of perfect health."

as their

The learned Doctor thought it superfluous to make any experiments on the blood and urine in either of these cases, appearance and nature were sufficiently ascertained before."

"The diet, in all these persons, was the usual fare of labouring people; and the effect of the medicine seemed not to vary, by any accidental change. That a diet entirely of animal matter should afford the saccharine quality to the urine, would seem to contradict the experience of the late Dr. Rollo on this subject." The Doctor, however, thinks that eminent physician viewed the pathology of diabetes too much as a chemical disease. "The omnipotence of a living principle in the system," observes the Doctor," is not to be

denied; and whatever processes resembling chemical combinations may be produced in the body, they can only be vicarious of this administering power. The purgative effect of magnesia, as exhibited in these patients, plainly shews a predominant acidity in the stomach and bowels. This is probably the saccholactic acid, and involved in the process of deranged digestion. Many of the attendant symptoms can only be considered as sympathetic, with this extraordinary condition of the digestive powers."

The five cases of diabetes the Doctor has published, he observes, are the proportion that he had met with in ten thousand seven hundred persons of the labouring class, to whom he had given medical advice, since 1802; and many of them had come from very remote parts of this and the neighbouring countries. The Doctor states, that he has known about twenty instances of this disease in all; but, from all the circumstances of sex, age, temperament, season, situation, employment, habits of life, &c., he could not discover any peculiar character of predisposition that gave birth to its singular train of symptoms.'

In a former communication, the Doctor thought it necessary to warn physicians against the adulteration of calcined magnesia. What was employed so successfully by himself was magnesia free from carbonic acid.

"The simplicity of this treatment of diabetes," the Doctor hopes, "will be its recommendation to the ingenious and disinterested part of the profession; and to the confidence of their approbation, he leaves the future trials of the medicine."

CROTON OIL.-Mr. John Frost, in a Lecture lately delivered before the Medico-Botanical Society of London, emphatically observed, that whenever a new medicine is introduced into practice, it behoves every professional man to enquire into its history, with the view of discovering if it had been employed in former times, or in other countries, and if so, to endeavour to learn the reason of its having fallen into disrepute. In his inquiries respecting the Croton Oil, he has discovered that the first correct account of the plant which affords the seeds from which is it obtained, viz. the purging Croton (Croton Tiglium Lin.), appears in a work published in 1649, under the title of Plantarum Historia Oxoniensis Universalis, by Jacob Bobart. The accurate description this author has given of the shrub, certainly proves that he was well acquainted with it.

Mr. Frost very properly commented on two errors which appear in a recent publication by a Mr. Short, viz. of giving the Oil the name of Oil of Croton,' instead of the Oil of the Seeds of the purging Croton, or Croton Tiglium; for of the genus Croton there are no less than eighty species, which essentially differ in their medicinal properties, and the term Oil of Croton is applicable to the Oil of any one of them. The other error is his representation of the oil, as a most safe medicine. There is no doubt, observed Mr. Frost, that the true Oil of the Seeds of the Croton Tiglium, in the dose of four drops, is capable of destroying the life of a person in health. In the quantity of one drop in those obstinate cases, which resist other cathartics, it may be administered with great advantage. Mr. Frost