consequences. Instead of causing salivation, and passing out of the system in that way, it seems to get into the bones, and causes the most fearful caries and sloughing of the bones of the checks, alveolar processes, cheeks and gums. Cases of this kind have been narrated to me by medical men, and others, as having occurred in this county, when the Mercurial Practice was most in vogue, in the treatment of our autumnal fevers.

It was at one time a prejudice among medical men, that the use of cold water, while under the influence of Mercury, would bring on salivation and other evil consequences, and I have heard of children dying in our autumnal fevers who were never allowed a drop, and whose last intelligible cry was water! water! I have no doubt that exposure to cold and moisture, which checks suddenly the transpiration of the skin, might prove injurious while using Mercury, but I know that there is no danger from the simple drinking of cold water.

We beg leave to give here a few remarks of Dr. Beck, upon the Effects of Mercury in the Young Subject. "If," says he, "salivation occurs so rarely in children under a certain age, then it is evident that it can never be made a criterion by which to judge of its influence on their system. To attempt, therefore to produce this effect, as we do in adults, is manifestly improper.

. The fact that Mercury may prostrate and destroy a child, even though it does not cause salivation, it is to be feared is not sufficiently appreciated at least by some. We have known Calomel given without weight or measure to a young child, and the reason assigned to justiy was that it could do no harm because it would not salivate. Now it appears to me that no opinion can be more uufounded, and no prac tice more mischievous. . . The use of Mercury in young

subjects, as an alterative, should in all cases be conducted with great caution. There is no practice more common than that of continuing the use of this agent in small doses for a considerable time, and certainly none which is more liable to abuse. Under the idea that the dose is so small, and from no salivation appearing, we are apt to infer that even if the medicine is not doing any good it is certainly not doing any harm. Every practitioner must have been aware of cases, in which, in this way the article has been unnecessarily and injuriously continued. In bowel complaints, under the idea of altering the secretions, it has frequently, no doubt, helped to keep up the very intestinal irritation which it was given to correct. In other cases it has developed the latent tendency to other diseases,

such as Scrofula, Phthisis Pulmonalis, &c. In adults we know this to be very often the case. In the use of Mercury in young children great care should be exercised in ascertaining as far as possible their constitutional peculiarities. Whenever the patients show indications of Scrofula, or where there is an hereditary predisposition to Consumption, great caution ought to be exercised in the use of Mercury in their offspring. Mercury should be administered with great caution in cases where a child has been sick for a considerable length of time, and when the strength of the child has been very much reduced. In this state of constitutional depression a single cathartic dose of Calomel sometimes proves fatal. The too common practice of giv. ing Calomel as an ordinary purge on all occasions is certainly unjus tifiable. From the facility with which it may be given, it is unquestionably resorted to in a great number of cases where it is certainly unnecessary, and in a great number where it positively does harm. Now in this way there can be no question that the use of it has laid the foundation for the ruin of the constitutions of thousands.”—(American Jour. Med. Sci., No. 26, N. s., p. 509.)

Salivation has been very commonly supposed to effect a complete revolution in the system, and this opinion has been distinctly advanced by Dr. Warren. He says, "a necessary consequence of the highly stimulating power of mercurial oxides upon the system is the universal revolution which the constitution must undergo whilst subjected to their influence," and he goes on at some length to explain the reason of this necessary change. The grand principle upon which it is effected seems to be the breaking up of all old morbid associations, by the substitution of a new and more powerful action, brought about by the Mercury. Intimately connected with this general revolution in the system, is the notion of the alterative action of Mercury, when given in small doses for a long time, even without producing salivation. It must be admitted that, at best, these opin ions are hypothetical, and appear to me to indicate clearly a sort of blind credulity in an occult operation of the remedy which is totally inexplicable and peculiar to it. I have never been able to discover any greater alterative or revolutionary action from Mercury in the cure of discases, than from any other remedy. Every remedy must be supposed to alter, more or less, the actions of the system, when. ever it effects the cure of any disease.

In the same way that Mercury excites the salivary glands has it been supposed to excite the liver, and consequently, in most diseases

of this organ, it has been held up as the chief remedy. From my own observation, I must say, that I have not been able to discover any particular difference in their action on the liver, between Mercury and any other active cathartic, and consequently do not believe that its action on this organ is either peculiar or specific. I have seen as much bile pass off under the use of tnilder cathartics, and more under the use of Tartar Emetic, than that of any other remedy I have ever used; and were I to judge from my own experience alone, I would not hesitate to declare that this preparation of antimony acted generally more decidedly upon the liver than any preparation of Mercury I have ever used.

Among the toxicological effects of Mercury may be mentioned a peculiar fever, which has received the name of Hydrargyria, a form of Neuralgia or Chronic Rheumatism known as Mercurial Rheumatism, in which the metal is deposited in the fibrous tissues and cartilages of the joints--various eruptions upon the surface of the body in the form of Eczema, Herpes, Meliaria, &c. The Mercurial Tremor we have already mentioned and this sometimes passes into a state of complete Paralysis.--(Med. Chir. Rev., vol. 38, p. 510.)

But among the worst effects of Mercury is a kind of Erysipelas or Erythema, which is known as Mercurial Erythismus. I am inclined to believe that this is nothing more nor less than the Hydrargyria or Mercurial fever, attended with erysipelatous symptoms, which, according to its severity, may be simple or phlegmonous, and I will terminate what I have to say upon the effects of Mercury by narrating the following cases of this affection, in which is shown at the same time a most unaccountable susceptibility to the action of this poison, The following are my notes of the cases, taken down from the mouth of the individual in August, 1838.

Mrs. R, a respectable lady of this county, aet. about 50 years, presents a curious example of idiosyncracy of constitution, in regard to the action of Mercury. The following instances can hardly be regarded as accidental coincidences, but must be looked upon as effects produced from bare contact with this poison.

A. The first time she ever had Erysipelas was after taking a dose of Calomel, which had been prescribed by a physician. The Calo. mel was taken at night; and the next day, "from her head all over her body she was as red as scarlet."

B. The next time, a vial containing Calomel was broken. She emptied the Calomel into a plate, and, in order to free it from pieces

The next day her neck was

of glass, she sifted it through cloth. covered over with splotches of Erysipelas.

C. She once made use of a solution of Corrosive Sublimale, for the purpose of destroying bed-bugs, (Cimex lectularius,) and of course her hands were more or less wet by it. In a short time, after this, she had the same erysipelatous eruption.

D. After weighing off some Calomel one day she got some on her hands-the next day she was affected with the Erysipelas.

E. The last time that she had been affected in this way, was in consequence of being in a close room with an individual (a lady) who was salivated. While in the room she was taken with a Chill and Nausea. She returned home, went to bed immediately, and spent a restless night-on the next day she was covered with Erysipelas, which was so violent as to confine her to bed for three months. It assumed the phlegmonous character. The inflammation termina. ted in abscesses over the glutei muscles, and sinuses were formed which were healed with difficulty. She, however, eventually recov. ered, and is now enjoying good health.

ARTICLE XXXVII.

Case of Traumatic Tetanus cured by Strychnine. By P. M. KOLLOCK, M. D., of Savannah.

Juba, a negro girl, belonging to J. B. B., of Savannah, while running about without shoes, stepped upon a piece of board which happened to contain a nail, and received a punctured wound of the sole of the foot-the nail entering near the heel, and penetrating to a considerable depth. Disregarding the accident, she continued to go about for three days, when she began to feel pain-which induced her master to scarify the part slightly and apply a poultice. This treatment failing to relieve the pain, which continued to increase with rapidity; on the 4th of July last I was called in to her. I found her in great agony, and immediately incised the part freely and deeply, inserting lint moistened with spts. terebinth, over which a Jaudanum poultice was applied, and a teaspoonful of laudanum ad. ministered by the mouth. In about an hour from this time I was summoned to her, and found that Tetanus had commenced. The paroxysms of spasm came on at intervals of two or three minutes and lasted two and a half or three minutes.

During the paroxysm (which was generally ushered in by a slight tremor of the eye-lids and the discharge of tears from the inner can. thus of the left eye) the head and body were bent backwards and a little to the right side-the hands were clenched-the upper and lower extremities somewhat rigid, and the jaws firmly closed. Res. piration extremely slow, and at times almost imperceptible-intelligence extinct.

R. Calomel gr. x. Tr. Opii 3j., every two hours-tobacco poultices to spine and abdomen. After continuing these poultices for some time, they were removed, and a blister was applied, extending the whole length of the spinal column.

This treatment was continued without any abatement of the paroxysms in force, or any extension of the intervals between them, for the space of six hours-when a tobacco enema (two leaves of tobacco steeped in half-a-pint of boiling water,) was administered. This was followed by vomiting, great distress, clammy sweat, great prostration, insensibility, and stertorous breathing.

In a short time these symptoms became less intense-produced a perfect subsidence of spasm-but the insensibility and stertor continued.

B. Ol. Ricini 3j.; blisters to calves of legs; cold applications to head; enema of sol. mur. sod. Discontinued calomel and laudanum. She remained in this state about three hours, when the spasms returned with increased violence.

July 5, 8 o'clock, A. M. The treatment, was resumed. B. Cal. and Tr. Op., as before. In a short time after the administration of the first dose, the tobacco enema (made rather weaker) was repeated. Up to this time, she had taken 50 grs. cal. and 3 vj. tr. opii.

12 o'clock, M. Spasms continue; but rather diminished in force and frequency. B. Repeat tobacco enema; continue calomel and laudanum. Diet, gruel and rum, rich soup.

Half past 5 o'clock, P. M. Very much the same.

Finding that the treatment had not advanced the case beyond a point of very slight improvement, believing that it had received a very fair trial, and forming an extremely unfavorable prognosis of the case, I determined to resort to a different remedy, viz., Strychnine, and accordingly, made the following prescription:

R. Strychain. gr. j. Pulv. G. Arab. gr. xiv. M. Divid. in pulv. No. xiv., one powder every two hours. Discontinue all other reme. dies.