Volume 2

A selection of curious articles from the Gentleman's Magazine / [By John Walker].

Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A selection of curious articles from the Gentleman's Magazine / [By John Walker]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    oil, that are mentioned in this text, are both of them the most pernicious things imaginable to the bones.’* It js cer- tain, that in me eastern countries, they used much oil about the human body, for the purpose of suppling, purifying, and brightning the skin, and so far it was useful in those adust climes ; but it should seem from this passage in the Psalms, they were aware at the same time, that oil, how beneficial soever it might be to the skin, was hurtful to the bones. So far, so good. But now, Sir, others do not apprehend that oil has any such noxious quality, in respect of bones, and thev adduce an experiment to shew it has not, but on the contrary is rather serviceable to them. Thus Alex. Blaekrie speaking of oil, the third, and by much the largest ingredient in the composition of soap, says, it is so far from having any share in its lithonthriptic properties, that, on the contrary, he thinks it rather tends to hinder the other ingredients from exerting their active powers for this purpose, by becoming, in some degree, a cement to connect the calcareous particles of our food, ike. ‘ That this is the case will evidently ap- pear,’ he says, ‘ by the easy experiment of calcining a bone till it is reduced to an inert inactive earth; which, if not dis- turbed, will, nevertheless, retain its former shape. The bone thus robbed of its agglutinating principles, will become so friable as to crumble into dust and ashes upon a gentle touch; but afterwards, \ now please to observe, Mr. Urban,] by the affusion of a sufficient quantity of oil, such a degree of te- nacity maybe restored to it, as will allow it to be taken up and handled freely without breaking. That oil contributes much to the stability of the bones, by preventing them from growing too brittle, the learned and accurate anatomist, Dr. Alexander Monro, when he enumerates the uses of the marrow, has evidently shewnf.’ Here, a great anatomist asserts, that oil contributes to the stability of the bones, and an acute disquisitor shews by experiment, that it will even restore the lost tenacity of them. What then is to be done in this case? How are we to determine, when there are such cogent authorities on both sides the question, whether oil be hurtful or beneficial to the hones? For my part, I cannot but wish some further inquiries might he made upon this subject. As to the Psalmist, he will he clear either way, as * Nieuwentyt, Relig. Philosopher, I. p. 203. f Blackrio’s Disquisition on Medicines that dissolve the Stone, p. S-i. Seq. where he cites Monro’s Anatomy of the Bones, Edit. IV. p. 20. Seq.