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.

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    L J5 ] endeavour to convince the reader that It is this faline ftate of our fluids which tends to increafe and promote the fcurvy. I have in the hiftory of the difeafe ob- ferved that the blood is broke down and diflolved, and this is the peculiar effeCt of the ammoniacal fait, to diilolve the lymph which gives confidence to the blood; we have proof of this in the great quantity of ferum and its acrid and faline ftate, which is obfervable more particularly in the urine. It has commonly been fup- poftd by fome of the moft eminent me¬ dical writers, that the fcorbutic ftate is the putrid ftate of our blood, but I muft here carefully diftinguifh it : I confefs that there is reafon to believe that this faline ftate of our fluids is the firft ftep towards putrefaction ; but the deepeft and moft deplorable fcurvy furnifhes no putrid ferment, and what is more re¬ markable, it is no where contagious : but there is another argument of confi- c^erable