sence of numerous spectators; nor did their violence again recur. He slept quietly the whole of the ensuing night, and in the morning an increase of vigor in the system was observable, and his pulse was 73 in a minute. Liquids now produced little or no abhorrence, and he could afterwards swallow with facility. The active and stimulating properties of lobelia are well ascertained, but its specific efficacy as a remedy in hydrophobia is yet to be determined by the test of experiments, under the observation of prudent and intelligent physicians.

The scutellaria galericulata, or scull-cap, another native production, is reputed to have effected numerous cures both among the human species and brute creation. The character and description of this plant, with all the authority in its favour which could be procured, has been introduced to the public by the suggestion of the respectable clergyman above mentioned, through the medium of the American New Dispensatory. One instance, however, has recently occurred in this vicinity, confirmatory at least of its probable utility. A cow, severely bitten, has been preserved by its use, while other animals poisoned by the same dog, became mad and died. The plant is, I believe, produced plentifully in our low meadows, particularly on the banks of rivers and ponds. It flowers in July or August, when it should be carefully preserved, and our farmers may with a fair prospect of success, have recourse to it as a remedy among their cattle when unfortunately bitten. As no deleterious properties have been ascribed to this article, medical skill is not requisite in its administration, and no one should hesitate to employ it with all the confidence which its high character thus far is calculated to inspire.

It is extremely important that the medica! virtues of this domestic remedy should be brought to the test, and the result of every experiment ought to be promptly promulgated, that its real merit may be actually decided,

That the fatal consequences of the ravaging evil in question, may, as far as possible, be obviated, it is incumbent upon professional men, to direct their attention to the most eligible means of prevention on such alarming occasions. The first in point of importance or security, unquestionably is, the operation of cutting out or burning the parts in which the bite has been effected; but whether this be dispensed with or not, a careful and assiduous ablution cannot be too strongly inculcated. If the wounded part be properly scarified within a few hours, or even days, after the accident, and water be poured on forcibly, and the washing persevered in for a length of time, there is almost an infallible certainty, that in general the destructive poison may be completely eradicated before it can be absorbed into the system. The above process, however, should, for greater security, be followed by the application of the nitrate of silver, or some other caustic in solution, or if not speedily attainable, a valuable substitute may probably be found in the properties of strong unslacked lime. I subscribe myself, with great respect, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

JAMES THACHER.

VII.

Observations on various Remedies in the Treatment of HYDROPHOBIA: extracted from a Letter addressed to Dr. B. LYNDE OLIVER, of Massachusetts, by DaVID HOSACK, M. D. Professor of Botany, &c.

DEAR SIR,

New-York, February 10th, 1811.

Your several letters of December, January, and of the 5th of February, have been duly received. I have delayed answering them, for the purpose of obtaining and communicating to you a paper on the use of the anagallis arvensis in hydrophobia, which I have at length procured. This plant is a native of your state, as I know, having myself met with it when passing through Massachusetts and Connecticut, some years since. But this can be of little importance, at this time, to those who may now be the subjects of that terrible and fatal disease, as that plant is the product of the summer season.

I received the observations of Dr. Thacher, and intend to print them as a valuable document, in the next number of the Register. But as to the lobelia inflata, the anagallis arvensis, or the scutellaria, I confess I have seen no evidence sufficient to give confidence in either of them as antidotes to that most deadly disease. Mr. Coleman, however, tells me that in the neighbourhood of Mamaroneck, he has certainly witnessed the good effects of the scutellaria: the information he possesses, has been already made public through the medium of the Evening Post.

The scutellaria of our country, is not the species galericulata, but the lateriflora; see Willdenow or Persoon. I mention this not from an examination of the living plant, but from a reference to the plates of Curtis, Smith, and Vahl, who represent the galericulata to have axillary flowers and large corollæ ; whereas the lateriflora, and which corresponds with our plant, has small flowers, and those in a racemus, intermixed with small leaves. I shall in future attend to these particulars in the living plant. I also receive the same information from my nephew, Dr. Eddy, a young but accurate botanist.

The remedy, which of all others I should be inclined to try upon any patient of mine, is that of Crous, purchased sometime since by the state of New-York. You know that excepting the calomel, its chief ingredient is copper: all the other accompaniments I consider as so much quackery. But in the use of copper I confide, because it is among the most active articles of the materia medica, as we see in epilepsy, and many other diseases of the nervous system, in which it has been successfully administered: add to this, that the evidence upon which Crous' remedy was purchased was very respectable, as I have been informed personally, by governor Lewis. Analogy also sanctions the principle, that nothing short of an active medicine, or poison if you please, can prove the antidote to that of hydrophobia. In a case of tetanus, (see the Annals of Medicine and Medical Repository,) I gave three gallons of Madeira wine, in a short space of time, without producing any apparent excitement while the irritations of the disease continued: but the moment the latter ceased the wine began to produce exhilarating effects. I then ceased to give it ; she had no returns of the complaint. A

little patient of mine, some years since, was bitten by a mad dog in the arm; hydrophobia came on in a few days with all its characteristic symptoms. I resolved to try opium ; she was about five years of age. I gave it in every possible form as much as two grains of solid opium were given every two hours. I also directed laudanum, in glyster, and applied a plaster of opium to the throat; but all to no purpose in counteracting the irritation of the disease. Nor had she a moment of sleep in three days and as many nights, the time she lived after hydrophobia first appeared, but sat up in bed until the moment of her dissolution. As the stimulus of wine has counteracted lock jaw, and as the sedative effects of opium, (as far as it has been tried in this case,) will not controul the irritation of hydrophobia, let us try what the powerful stimulus of the oxyd of copper will do. Was I, myself, the subject of the disease, Mr. Crous' remedy should be tried as far as the copper is concerned.

We surely could not take into our system so much of this metal, and in the manner administered, without evil consequences when in health. I therefore conclude that the one irritation is expended in counteracting the other. Let us then not despair of administering some stimulus calculated to arrest that of hydrophobia; the volatile alkali certainly allays the irritations produced by the bite of the viper. As a preventive, I confide most in washing the part, as recommended by Dr. Thacher, and continuing the process a considerable length of time. The little girl, before mentioned, was bitten on the arm about 7 o'clock in the morning; in less than fifteen minutes after the accident, I removed not only all the parts bitten, but to a considerable distance beyond them, so as to em