Observations on the effects of sea water in the scurvy and scrophula: in which a new theory of those diseases is attempted; with some reasons why bathing in fresh water must be much superior to that of the sea / [Anon].

  • William Logan
Date:
1770
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the effects of sea water in the scurvy and scrophula: in which a new theory of those diseases is attempted; with some reasons why bathing in fresh water must be much superior to that of the sea / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/56 (page 12)
    Dr. Boerhaave, in his chemical Ie£iure$? has long fince proved that the blood in its natural ftate gave no proof of its abounding with either an acid or alkali, as he could not procure an effervefcence with either the ftrongeft vinegar or a fixed alkali; he tried another experiment by digefting the ferum of the blood till it became putrid, and he then difcovered a volatile alcaline fait j and hence the dodor drew feme plaufible conclufions with regard to putrid dileaies, but his conclufions will not bear the teft of examination, though perhaps if allowed it would be very favourable tq my theory. A volatile alkali is always found in the fluids in a neutral form, but that it is ever changed and decompofed in the mafs of blood during life appears very doubtful; if it is evolved fo as to exift in a feparate ftate, it mu ft be in confequence of a putrefadion which goes further than is confident with fife. Dr. Gaubius, an eminent profeflor at Leyden,