Remarks on the Effects of Iodine on the Glandular System, and on the Properties of Kousso.

Abstract

therefore, that the disease is not inflammatory, and blood-letting is contraindicated. There appears, indeed, to be an affinity between this disease and its congeners,-hysteria, mania, and tetanus, in none of which A there an increase of animal heat. Galen calls mania the "delirium sine febre ;" and according to Dr. Beddoes "it is certain that tetanus exists without increased heat;"* which conclusion is supported by the experiments of Dr. Currie, whose remarks on the impropriety of blood-letting in tetanus are equially applicable in hydrophobia. -'It is deeply to be lamented," says this able pathologist, " that this disease should ever have been considered as of an inflammatory nature, and that there are even now physicians who treat it by venesection. It is in my mind decisive against this supposition that though the general system is so powerfully affected, the animal heat is not increased, which it uniformly is in all cases where there is an inflammatory affection of the system, whether originating or terminating in local phlegmonic inflammation."t Opium has always failed to give relief in hydrophobia; and I cannot think favourably of large doses of arsenic, s recommended by Dr. Billing. We may, however, hope that as we have obtained a remedy for the painfdl symptoms of this distressing malady, an antidoe, will yet be discovered. An eternal debt of gratitude is due to Dr. Simpson for his discovery of the anesthetic properties of chloroform, which, if administered, with the cautions and restrictions laid down by Mr. Nunneley, of Leeds$ can seldom be dangerous.