Observations on the nature and cure of calculus, sea scurvy, consumption, catarrh, and fever : together with conjectures upon several other subjects of physiology and pathology.

  • Beddoes, Thomas, 1760-1808
Date:
1793
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the nature and cure of calculus, sea scurvy, consumption, catarrh, and fever : together with conjectures upon several other subjects of physiology and pathology. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    160/300 (page 142)
    below. In the mean time, we can {carcé expect any effect from the {tate of the at- mofphere, fince it appears to contain an equal quantity of oxygene air in the mof populous city and the clofeft weather *. It has fometimes been fuppofed that hee- moptoe and phthifis have been produced by quickfilver-+; and this fluid metal has | been * According to the experiments of Mr. Scheele and Cavendith. | + In the fcurvy, preparations of quickfilver in ex- treme fmal] quantity produce a copious and dangerous falivation, almoft always attended with bloody ftools. (Lind, p. 111.) A tendency to falivation is frequently obferved in fcorbutic perfons, independent of quick- filver. ‘The chemical condition of the fyftem, I fup- pofe, is the caufe of the firft-mentioned appearance. But in what this confifts, I cannot form any fatis- faCtory conjecture at prefent. I think it alfo not pre- fumptuous to expect from chemiftry the explanation of the peculiarity, which appears in fome perfons, whofe fkin is no fooner touched with quickfilver ointment than it is felt in the falivary glands. Moft idiofyn~ crafies depend probably upon fomething peculiar in the chemical compofition of the fyftem. OF fuch effects there muft be determinate caufes ; and I fee none fo likely