of some unprincipled pretenders. The idea that he should never be in a condition to marry a female, to whom he was attached, rendered him very miserable. He commenced taking the extract of Buchu leaves, with the infusion (two pills of the former, five grains in each, and three tablespoonsful of the latter) twice a day, i. e. two hours before dinner, and the last thing at night; and after a perseverance of one month he found himself in perfect health, which he continues to enjoy. CASE XIV. I. W. S., aged 26, had suffered greatly from spasms in the region of the bladder, acute spasms at the neck of the bladder, occasional retention of urine, considerable irritation about the rectum, and such a sympathy between the bladder and rectum, that an attempt to evacuate either brought the other into action. His sufferings had been attributed by one surgeon to stricture of the urethra, and by another to stricture in the rectum. Bougies had been applied to both passages, but they failed to afford relief. He commenced taking the infusion and extract of Buchu leaves on the 2d of May, 1822. After taking two doses he was sensible of considerable mitigation of the most distressing symptoms, and after persevering in their use a fortnight, he was perfectly free from any affection of the parts, and at this time, June 12th, enjoys perfect health. N. B. The infusion of the Buchu leaves may be administered with such other remedies as the state of the stomach, or general health, may indicate; i. e. in case acidity should prevail in the stomach, the carbonate of soda, or magnesia, may be added; and, in case of constipation of the bowels, the sulphate of magnesia. In cases of debility of stomach, or indigestion, without acidity, or costiveness, no addition will be necessary-the Buchu leaves being an excellent stomachic. When structural disease exists, the blue pill will also be necessary. The Buchu Leaves, and the Tincture of them, may be obtained at the Medical Hall, 170, Piccadilly. FINIS. J. G. Baruard, Printer, Skinner Street, London. DISEASES OF THE RECTUM.-Since the publication of the foregoing pages, the Buchu leaves have been found highly beneficial in spasmodic and organic stricture, and ulcerations of the rectum, internal piles, and mucous discharges from the lower intestines. CASE XV. Organic Stricture of the Rectum. Mr. W. S. sen. of a thin habit, aged 64, had been subject for many years to a most harassing irritation about the lower part of the rectum, attended with prolapsus on voiding hard fæces, and considerable irritation after the operation of an aperient medicine. About six years ago the difficulty of passing fæces having increased, he applied to a surgeon of eminence, who, after examination, attributed his sufferings to organic stricture, and partial ulcerations. Receiving little benefit from his advice, he determined to give the Buchu leaves a trial, in consequence of a friend having derived most essential advantage from them in a case of stricture of the urethra. After taking two teaspoonfuls of the saturated tincture twice a day in a wineglassful of the decoction of the marshmallow root for the course of a week, the irritation about the bladder subsided, his appetite and general health improved, and the fæces passed with greater facility. In the course of another week the spasmodic constriction of the anus considerably abated, and the rectum was in so quiet a state as to admit of the introduction of a bougie. After persisting in the use of these remedies for one month longer, he was free from any affection of the rectum, and at this time enjoys perfect health. So free was the rectum from irritation after taking the tincture three weeks, that he rapidly advanced from the smallest to nearly the largest bougie. CASE XVI. The Rev. J. S. had been afflicted for eight years with a most distressing irritation in the rectum, often extending to the neck of the bladder, attended with discharge of bloody mucus, considerable bearing down after a motion, frequent nauseas, considerable flatulence, &c. He had consulted several eminent physicians and surgeons, some of whom attributed his sufferings to ascarides, and others to preternatural length of the intestine. The surgeons who had examined the rectum did not discover any organic disease. There was always great rigidity about the anus. The account given in the Gazette of Health of the powers of the Buchu leaves, in allaying morbid irritation in the bladder, induced him to give the saturated tincture a trial. He commenced by taking two teaspoonsful three times a day in a glass of the decoction of marshmallow root, which, in the course of three days, greatly improved his general health. His appetite was much improved, his stomach and intestines were considerably less distended with flatus, and the complaint of the rectum was evidently on the decline. After persevering in the use of the remedy a few days longer, he was comparatively easy, and in the course of another fortnight he was perfectly well. CASE XVII. Mrs. D., a married lady, aged 34, had been afflicted for three years with an obtuse pain in the rectum, attended with a constant inclination to go to stool, a distressing bearing down, great irritation about the bladder and uterus, frequent nausea, spasms in the thighs and legs, and general nervousness. Some of the medical men whom she consulted, attributed her sufferings to internal piles, others to gravel, and others a disease of the uterus. After taking ten grains of the extract of Buchu leaves (in two pills) with a wineglassful of the decoction of the marshmallow root, four days, the pain about the bladder and uterus ceased, and that about the rectum considerably abated. Her general health was also much improved; and after persisting in the use of the remedy a fortnight, she was perfectly free from disease. CASE XVIII. R. T., of a robust habit, aged 56, had suffered most severely, for many months, from acute pain in the rectum and bladder, attended with frequent inclination to go to stool, which was always accompanied with an involuntary discharge of urine. A surgeon of eminence in London pronounced his case to be enlargement of the prostate gland, and prescribed blue pill and sarsaparilla. Receiving no benefit from the treatment, he had recourse to the saturated tincture of the Buchu leaves in the dose of two teaspoonsful twice a day in a wineglassful of the decoction of the marshmallow roots. In the course of three days the irritation considerably abated, and his general health improved. A small foul ulcer having been discovered within the verge of the anus, and the internal hæmorrhoidal veins being much distended, the soft astringent bougie was introduced twice a day, which, in the course of a week, healed the ulcer, and diminished the size of the blood vessels. The irritation rapidly abated, and in the course of three weeks he was perfectly well. Several cases of external and internal irritative piles, and ulceration of the rectum, in which the saturated tincture and extract of the Buchu leaves were successfully administered, we shall give in the 83d number of the Monthly Gazette of Health, which will be published on the first of November, with a description of a new instrument for inspecting the rectum and vagina, and also of a new soft bougie. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, AUTHOR OF THE "DICTIONARY POPULAR MEDICINE," "MEDICAL GUIDE," 66 CHEMICAL GUIDE," CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF PRACTICAL MEdicine of parIS, &c. &c. &c. Aided by several eminent Physicians in America, the East Indies, and on the Continent of On the Effects of Carbonate of Magnesia, in counteracting the fatal Effects of On the Chinese Operation, termed Zin-King, by Mr. Churchill Letters of a Royal Physician, on Indigestion, &c. &c. On the Effects of Galvanism in Costiveness, &c. &e. by M. La Beaume On the advantages of the Portable Sudatory, by Ditto New Mode of Treating Occult Cancer, by Mr. Farr..... To" Carolus Johannes" the Editors recommend the following medicines: Take of Infusion of Roses (the London Pharm.), seven ounces; Sulphate of Magnesia, four drachms; Compound Tincture of Cardamoms, six ditto.-Mix. Three table-spoonsful to be taken two or three times a day. He may also take at bed-time, for the course of a fortnight, four grains of the blue pill every other night: Take of Borax, one drachm; Distilled Water, six drachms; Egyptian Honey, four drachms.-Mix.' To be applied to the ulcerated parts every night and morning, by means of a camel-hair pencil. (Indigestion, attended with ulcerations of the tongue.) "Mrs. C. J." the Editors advise to take ten grains of the ecphractic pill, in two pills, twice a day, with a glass of water. She should live abstemiously, keep her feet warm, and lose blood, if the giddiness should increase. Alpha" is informed, that by the term saturated tincture of buchu leaves is meant, a tincture containing as much of the virtues of the leaves as the menstruum is capable of holding in solution. The case of "A. B." is evidently scrofula. The only remedy entitled to a trial is the tincture of iodine. To" James C." the Editors recommend the following mixture:Take of Camphorated Julep, six ounces; Sweet Spirit of vitriol, three ditto; Tincture of Henbane, three ditto; of Gentian, four ditto.-Mix. Three table-spoonsful to be taken three times a day.---(Indigestion, attended with hiccup). The letters of " Eliza J." and "Jane W." are arranged for our next number. They were omitted in the present number to make room for the Title Page, &c. of the last volume. The Editors beg to inform " G. I." that they know of no other method of radically curing rupture, than that which they have suggested in a former number. It has never been performed. Trusses, with strong springs, have produced such adhesion of cellular substance over the abdominal ring, as to prevent the descent of any part of the contents of the abdomen. Mr. Egg boasts of his truss having the power of " radically curing the disease,' which it can effect only by producing adhesion. "An Old Subscriber" is advised to give his daughter a wine-glassful of the following mixture, every morning, or twice a day, if it should not operate sufficiently on the bowels:-- Take of Sulphate of Magnesia, one ounce; Pure Water, a pint and a half: Simple Peppermint Water, half a pint; Dilute Sulphuric Acid, thirty drops.---Mix. She should rince her mouth out three times a day, with an astringent lotion; as Port wine and water, in equal proportions. A "Medical Subscriber" may save himself the trouble of writing. to the Editors in future. His two last letters they committed to |