Chapter M: GUERSENT was in the affirmative: he himself had magnetised, and

witnessed several phenomena, &c.

The discussion was then adjourned to the next setting, and on the 14th February, after hearing M. GASC against, and M. LHERMINER for the report, M. HUSSON the reporter was heard. The section then closed the discussion, and it was decided by a majority of ten, (35 to 25,) that a commission should be appointed to examine animal magnetism.

We are indebted for the above account to the Revue Medicale for March--the No. for February, also contains a review of M. DUPAU'S Lettres Physiologiques et Morales sur le Magnetisme Animal, 8vo. Paris, 1826. In order to show our readers how they manage these matters, we shall translate the following from p. 269.

"Here, says M. ROSTAN, is an experiment that I have often repeated, but which I was finally obliged to interrupt, because it fatigued my somnambulist prodigiously, who assured me, that if I continued, it would make her go mad. This experiment was made in presence of my colleague and friend, M. FERRUS. I took my watch, which I placed three or four inches from her occiput. I asked my somnambulist, if she saw any thing: "certainly, I see something that shines; it hurts me." Her countenance was expressive of pain, and ours expressed astonishment. We looked at each other, and M. FERRUS breaking silence, said, if she sees something shine, she can doubtless tell what it is. "What do you see that shines?--Oh! I don't know, I can't tell. Look at it well--Stop, it fatigues me, wait--(and after a moment of great attention) _It's a watch_." More astonishment. But, if she sees the watch, said M. FERRUS, she will doubtless see what o'clock it is. "Could you tell me what o'clock it is?--Oh! no, it is too difficult." "Look at it, try." "Wait then, I'll try; may be I can tell the hour, but I never shall be able to see the minutes;" and after the greatest attention--"It wants ten minutes of eight o'clock:" which was exact. M. FERRUS now desired to make the experiment himself, and repeated it with the same success. He made me turn the hands of his watch several times, and when presented to her (occiput we suppose,) without her having seen it, she never made any mistake."

These statements we have thought fit to lay before our readers, who will observe the respectable names which are connected with them. We shall seize the first opportunity to give the report of the new commission, and if they confirm the miracles, we can still say, credat Judaeus apella. If it will make no cure, it will probably make much pay; since MESMER got upwards of 340,000 francs for his mumming exhibitions, to the _spectacle_ loving quidnuncs of Paris. The commission consists of 11 members, viz. LEROUX, BOURDOIS, DOUBLE, MAGENDIE, GUERSENT, LAENNEC, THILLAYE, MARC, ITARD, FOUQUIER and GUENEAU DE MUSSY.

36. _Sketch of the Medical Literature of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway--by_ Dr. C. OTTO, _of Copenhagen, apud Bulletin des Sci. Med. Feb. and March._--"Denmark is richer in medical literature, than the other countries which in conjunction with it, composed the ancient Scandinavia. Although it does not in this respect, bear a comparison with France, Germany, England, and Italy, nevertheless, medicine, of all the sciences, seems to be that which is most successfully cultivated, and Copenhagen contains a great number of learned, and able physicians." In proof of what Denmark has done, Dr. O. refers us to the great names of the two BARTHOLINS, of STENO, of WINSLOW, of CALLISEN, &c.

"In the 16th century, Denmark possessed the anatomical works of the two BARTHOLINS: (_Instit. Anatomicæ de vasis lymphaticis, &c._) and other works of the same kind, which have been translated into all the languages of Europe. STENO, the disciple of THOMAS BARTHOLIN, followed the career of his master, with an equal success. HALLER never spoke of this anatomist, without the highest admiration. RODE enriched the literature of Germany and Denmark, with works which have made his name illustrious, wherever science is cultivated. Among these, we may chiefly distinguish his Bibliotheca, and Materia Medica." The Danes are indebted to him for several popular works on medicine, which are in the judgment of Dr. OTTO, chef d'oeuvres of this sort of writing. He published more than 13 volumes on these topics. "To the celebrated CALLISEN, who is recently deceased, we are indebted for 1st, a _Systema Chirurgiæ Hodiernæ_, a work of the highest merit, and which has reached a fourth edition. 2nd, a Medical Topography of Copenhagen, published in Danish. (2 _vols._ _8vo. Copen._ 1807.) 3d, the Director of the Academy of Surgery. He is also the author of several important memoirs, inserted in those of the _Roy. Soc. of Sciences_, of Denmark, and in some other collections. The late professor MATH. SAXTORPH, composed an excellent _manual of labours_, for the use of midwives. A second edition with plates, appeared in 1804. T. L. BANG, has given a _Praxis Medica_, an excellent guide to young physicians in their first outset in practice. HERHOLDT has shed some lustre on Danish Physiology: his dissertations on the life of the foetus, and on the question, whether vision is performed with both eyes, or with one only, bear testimony to his genius and penetration: he is also author of a memoir on penetrating wounds of the Chest, inserted, as well as the former dissertation, and many other pieces, in various medical journals.

"TYSCHEN published in 1804, a _Treatise on Pharmacy_, in Danish; and professor MYNSTER, gave a work on Pharmacology, of which two volumes only had appeared, when death interrupted his useful labours. In 1794, he commenced the publication of a journal, the _Bibliothek for Physik Oeconomic og Medicin_, which was continued in 1799, by BAHN, and afterwards under several names, till 1807. We now come to the existing state of Danish medical literature.

"The Royal Medical Society of Copenhagen, which, without contradiction, holds the first rank among those of Scandinavia, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1822. It publishes at irregular periods, its memoirs, under the title of _Nova Acta Societatis Medicæ Havniensis_. The last volume appeared in 1821. Professor JACOBSEN, is ardently devoted to the study of Comparative Anatomy, and has published several works on the subject, inserted in the Mem. of the Roy. Soc. of Sciences, extracts from which have appeared also in several foreign journals. The collection we have just now cited, (for 1824, V. I.) contains a memoir of Dr. GARTNER, which confirms the opinion entertained by the ancients, as to the presence of a glandular body in the uterus of some animals. The author has added a plate to this interesting dissertation. Dr. OTTO has enriched the physiological sciences with his _Phrenology_, and is zealously occupied with all that relates to this subject. Professor WENDT, physician to the General Hospital of Copenhagen, has recently published several small medical works. We may cite his _Historical and Chemical Supplements, to the knowledge of some therapeutical agents, of the class Euphorbiæ_; some notices on _small pox_, _vaccina_, and _modified small pox_.

"Denmark possesses three periodical journals of medicine, without counting those of the Royal Societies of Sciences and of Medicine of Copenhagen. The first and best of these journals, is the _Bibliothek for Læger_, published by a society instituted for the advancement of medical studies. CLASSEN, the founder of this association, bequeathed to it a sum of money, to purchase annually, some foreign medical works. This collection is composed of original memoirs, extracts, and announcements of other works, and a review of the _course_ of the faculty of medicine. It is specially consecrated to the practical department of the art--(three numbers per ann. of 70, to 100 pages each.) The 2nd collection, is the _Nye Hygæa_, the editor of which, (M. OTTO,) embraces in his plan, all the medical sciences. This journal, although specially devoted to physicians, is in reach of all those persons of education, who can be interested in a variety of important medical questions. It contains original memoirs, and extracts from foreign works, (five leaves per month.) The 3d collection, Archives for the History of Medicine in Denmark, (_Archiv. for lægevidens kabens historie in Danmark_,) does not appear periodically, but at indefinite times. Professor HERHOLDT, the editor, has only published one number, in 1823.

"As to inaugural dissertations for the doctorate, the number amounts only to three or four in the space of ten years; because the title of M. D. is not requisite to the practitioner in Denmark."

The above is taken from the Bulletin for February, the ensuing portion of the sketch is contained in the March number of the same journal.

"The medical literature of Sweden, must have been very insignificant in past ages, if we may form an opinion, from the total want of documents in relation to it. There existed no scientific lien between the physicians of that country, or even among those of the capital. A medical society might in vain have been sought for there, at a period, when they were common in all other countries. The Royal Academy of Sciences, published some essays relating to medicine, from time to time, but until 1807, a work on this topic was regarded as a sort of rarity. However, in the course of that year, seven physicians of Stockholm, united in order to found a society, which received the royal sanction, and took the title of _Svenska Loekare Soellskapet_, (_Society of Swedish Physicians_.) This institution, seemed to communicate to the practitioners of Sweden a new existence, and then really commenced the æra of medical literature in that country. The number of works published since that period, has scarcely amounted to more than one or two per annum. Dr. RABEN is the author of three works, which, though not large, give evidence of considerable knowledge and penetration: Their titles are: 1st. De præcipuis causis mali Scrophul. ejusque remediis Commentation. Lund. 1807. 2nd. A second volume on the same subject, written in the Swedish language, Lund. 1819. 3d. Observationes in Syphilidem, ejusque curationem, ubi novæ quoque proponuntur curandi rationes. Lund. Goth. 1821.

"We shall also mention among the works recently published in Sweden, 1st. A biographical and literary gallery of the physicians of that country, from the reign of Gustavus I. down to our own times, by Dr. J. F. SAKLEN. 2nd. FLORMANN'S Manual of Anatomy. Finally, a collection of the laws of the kingdom, which relate to medicine. The Medical Society of Stockholm, regularly publishes its transactions, _Svenska Loekare Soellskapets Handlingar_, the 10th vol. of which has just appeared. In it, are some remarkable cases, a table of the constitution of the atmosphere, and of the diseases which have prevailed at Stockholm, and in its environs; reports on the hospitals and baths of the whole kingdom; extracts from Medico-legal Examinations, recent discoveries, &c. M. ECKSTRÖM promises to publish a complete description of the variolous epidemic, which prevailed last year at Stockholm, and in the provinces. Besides these transactions, the secretary makes an annual report, on what passes at the sittings. To this he adds, short notices of the most interesting recent discoveries and observations, which he derives from foreign medical literature. He publishes this collection once a year, and adds some nosological articles. In closing this review, we ought not to forget to mention the collection of theses, defended at the university of Upsal, which is published yearly by Dr. ZETTERSTRÖM."

37. _Erysipelatous Mumps or Angina Parotidiana._--Dr. BEHR of Bernberg, has published in the _Journ. der Pract. Heilkund for July_, 1825, an account of this disease, which we find in the _Bulletin_ for Feb. 1826. Dr. BEHR'S "memoir is intended to pourtray the principal features of an epidemic prevalence of parotitis at Bernberg, in the months of December, 1822, and January and February, 1823. Dr. B. attributes it to the frequent and sudden variations of the atmosphere at that period." He says, "the disease is so rare in this country, that physicians of 30 years standing had never met with it before." Bernberg contains 6000 souls; it is divided into two parts by the Saale, and it is situated on the great road from Leipsic to Magdeburg, in a narrow valley, which runs from N. W. to S. E.

The precursory symptoms were rigors followed by heat, heaviness of the limbs, pains in the joints, especially in the evening, sense of tension in the region of the lower jaw, and sometimes a difficulty in mastication. The appetite was usually natural, with gastric symptoms only in the most severe cases. On the evening of the 3d day, there was an increase of uneasiness with chills and heat, after which the patient commonly enjoyed sweet sleep. The next day, on awaking, he felt tolerably well, and had no more sense of heaviness in his limbs, but his face was swelled on one or both sides. Speech and mastication were effected with difficulty; the lower jaw was _comme engourdie_, and a dull pain was felt in the ligaments of the joints; the tumefaction increased and soon extended from the ear to the cheek. On a careful examination, it was found to affect the parotid gland, and the surrounding cellular tissue. The tumour was hard, diffused, and not very painful, except on pressure. The colour and temperature of the swollen part were natural. In the evening, the pulse became hard and accelerated, the tongue white, the stools more consistent than common, and the urine pale. The following night he was agitated, frequently awakened by lancinating pains in the affected part, and sometimes by a sense of tension in the head. The following day, the tumour reached its maximum of elevation, and sometimes comprised the submaxillary glands of the same side. From this time, the pains did not increase, and the skin became slightly red only in a very few examples.

The disease having thus reached its acme, a gentle sweat commenced behind the ears, then extended over the whole tumour, and remained as long as the swelling lasted. This evening there was no fever, but a gentle perspiration continued throughout the night. The day following, being the 6th of the disease, the tumour was evidently diminished, and continued decreasing until its final disappearance, which occurred on the 9th, and sometimes on the 7th day. Until this period, abundant local perspirations in the day-time, less abundant, but more general ones in the night, were observable. When the disease was critical by urine with sediment, the diminution of the swelling was dated from this appearance; but the resolution was not perfected in some cases till the 14th day, and in such cases, the integuments of the part were covered with a mealy desquamation. Dr. BEHR did not observe any metastasis to the genitals, but he saw cases, in which the disappearance of the swelling, was followed by considerable fever with _augoisse_, and then an oedema, commonly situated on the head.

He often saw the termination by induration, but this soon yielded to a proper treatment. As to the contagion of mumps, the author thinks, it can only occur where there is desquamation of the integuments; and remarks on the analogy of this circumstance, with what occurs in scarlatina. Dr. BEHR thinks, that antiphlogistics are rarely indicated in the treatment of parotitis.

38. _Tænia._--In several cases in which gum. gutt., salts of tin, and other medicines, were unsuccessfully used for the expulsion of tape worm, Dr. BOUGARD succeeded in expelling them with pills compounded as follows: Merc. dulc. Extr. aloes, aa. gr. iij. divided into three pills. This dose was given every evening for eight days, and gradually increased or diminished, so as to procure three stools per diem. A rigorous diet was observed during this treatment.--_Rust's Magazin fur die gesamte Heilkunde apud Bulletin des Sci. Med. March_, 1826.

39. _Scrophula._--Dr. WETZ recommends the employment of caustic potassa in scrophula. He dissolves x grs. of caustic potassa in one ounce of orange-peel water, and gives from xij to xx gtt. four times a day, in a cup of broth. A solution of caustic potassa in six ounces of distilled water, is applied as a wash to the ulcers.--_Ibid._

40. _Digitalis._--We find in the Propagateur des Sciences Medicales for Feb. 1826, an account of the directions of Dr. NEUMANN of Berlin, for the employment of digitalis in pulmonic diseases: they are said to be the result of long experience. Digitalis is useless, says the writer, in all cases of suppuration of the lung, consequent to tubercles of that organ. It is of no avail in those suppurations, which succeed inflammatory hæmoptysis. It is employed without success in _local_ phlegmorrhagies of the lungs; but it almost invariably cures those chronic catarrhs, which depend on a state of erethism of the mucous lining of the bronchiæ. This disease is sometimes called chronic bronchitis, sometimes mucous consumption, pulmonic catarrh, and galloping consumption. If the diagnosis in this case be well made out, hopes may be entertained of a cure, one of the two following conditions being present:

A. The patient must be susceptible of the stimulant action of the remedy: this is often not the case. We may be sure the digitalis will not produce its effect, where the pulse of the patient remains _uniform and frequent after he has taken it for several days_. It does not suit such persons.

B. The medicine ought to be administered in a proper manner. To be good, the leaves, even in the dried state, should be perfectly green and free from any brown spots. Two ounces of the leaves, should be infused in six ounces of boiling water; and the patient may take a table spoonful every hour, until he feels nausea, or a sense of constriction in his throat, or flashing of the eyes, or irregular pulse. The use of the foxglove should then be interrupted for seven or eight days, in which interval, the full action of the medicine is developed, the pulse remaining irregular, and the mucous secretion diminishing gradually. If the first trial does not remove it entirely, a second course may be commenced after a few days.

FOOTNOTES:

[29] Series of Engravings to the morbid anatomy; fasc. 1. pl. 6. fig. 1, 2.

[30] Lond. Med. Review; vol. 4.

[31] Pathological Researches; Essay 1.

[32] Medical Researches on the Effects of Iodine in Bronchocele, Paralysis, Chorea Scrofula, Fistula Lachrymalis, Deafness, Dysphagia, White Swelling, and Distortions of the Spine. By Alexander Manson, M. D., &c. London, 1825.

[33] Carthamus Tinctorius.