nation of blood to the head, blisters were applied to the nape of the neck, or the cranium, and they seldom failed to give immediate relief, notwithstanding the unfavourable opinion entertained of them by Dr. Darwin and several other medical authorities. In this stage of the disease, the affusion of cold water, so much and so properly recommended by modern physicians, was employed with the happiest success. The patient never failed to be gratified as well as relieved by it, while the violence of the paroxysm was for a time considerably abated. very useful substitute for this practice consisted in sprinkling the patient while in bed with vinegar and tepid water, afterwards carefully rubbing the body dry with a flannel or linen cloth.

A

This antiphlogistic treatment was persisted in till the violence of the fever abated. As soon as this happy event took place, small doses of the pulvis ipecacuanha compositus, of from ten to fifteen grains each, were exhibited at bed-time. This seldom failed to procure a gentle sweat and refreshing sleep during the night, and the patient consequently felt his pain relieved, and his appetite in some degree returning next morning. He was now allowed the use of wine and porter in proportion to his debility, beginning at first with small quantities, which were gradually increased. He was also allowed the gradual use of soup and animal food; while bark was unceasingly administered to all convalescents, in every stage of their recovery, in as great quantities as their stomachs could

bear.

This treatment, with little variation, which necessarily arose from occasional symptoms, was the usual course followed by the army medical officers in Walcheren, whose zeal and exertions in the service of their country, in the performance of their duty, and in the cause of humanity, cannot be sufficiently praised or satisfactorily rewarded. What situation can be more dangerous, or what conduct more laudable, than that of those who spent the greatest part of their time in scenes of the

most deplorable distress, in visiting the sick and the dying, in administering to them remedies, in dispensing to them comforts, in relieving their wants, in alleviating their pains, and in soothing their sorrows!

Having thus, as I proposed, described concisely the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the fever, I shall conclude with making a few observations, which could not with propriety have been before introduced.

Venesection was in no stage of the disease advisable, and, as far as my experience, or accurate information extends, was never employed. The fever, even when of a continued form, rarely displayed any of those decidedly inflammatory appearances which indicate a high phlogistic diathesis, and which consequently render general bleeding requisite. Indeed, in every case, more or less, the tendency of the fluids to run to a state of putrefaction, partly, if not chiefly, the consequence, in humble opinion, of the salt meat and hard biscuit issued to the troops, was very observable, which was of itself sufficient evidence that bleeding, instead of being indicated, would have been highly detrimental.

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Patients were frequently put under a course of mercury, by means of small doses of calomel administered at short intervals. But this practice, though often useful in cases of visceral obstructions, especially those of the liver and spleen, which very frequently occurred, was necessarily employed with a cautious discrimination, as it was apt either to induce or to aggravate ascites or anasarca, very usual terminations of the fever.

It is a fact deserving of mention, that no patients, even though discharged as convalescent from the hospital, ever recovered, while in that country, their former health and strength. The majority of them relapsed, and were again received into hospital, while those who were able to perform their duties remained extremely pale, comparatively weak, had little appetite, and were apt to fall sick on the smallest exertion. This remarkable fact was no doubt in part owing to the

nature of the climate, and the shortness of the time during which we possessed those islands. But the chiefly operating cause I firmly believe to have been the nature of the food issued to the troops, (which I had the honour of mentioning at the time to General Brown, in the course of conversation on this subject) consisting of salt junk and hard biscuit, not to add the other causes, unripe fruit, spirituous liquors, tankwater, and damp lodging.

The employment of medical officers, in administering to the sick, was so constant and unremitted, that little or no time could be procured for minutely detailed reports of particular cases, or for dissections of the dead, to discover the morbid appearances. But it may in general be remarked that indurations and enlargements of the liver and spleen were often observed on dissection. I myself weighed a spleen about ten days ago at Hilsea Barracks, of a very unusual size and extreme induration, which weighed no less than three pounds and five ounces. But, as I have already far exceeded the bounds allotted to a concise view of the disease, I shall not at present enter on this part of the subject.

I shall therefore conclude with observing, that the islands of Walcheren and Beeveland are undoubtedly unhealthful, both on account of the soil, the climate, and the water; yet, if fresh meat and fresh bread were regularly issued to the troops; if fresh vegetables and good water were carefully provided for them; if they were anxiously restricted from the use of unripe fruit, as well as undiluted spirituous liquors; if flannel jackets and trousers, and dry, well ventilated apartments were allotted to them, very little sickness and mortality, indeed, would ever appear. In truth, I have no hesitation in saying that, if these precautions were attended to, the island of Walcheren might be kept with as little annual loss of men as either Jamaica, Martinique, or Guadaloupe.

RO. RENNY, Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces.

General Vyse to General Brownrigg.

Beverley, March 7, 1810. Dear Sir-As I am certain your kindness will give me credit for the satisfaction which I shall experience on every occasion in complying with your wishes, I feel equally happy to communicate, on the present, such information as my memory can enable me to impart, on the subject of your letter; and if any appearance of delay has attended my doing so, I request you to attribute it to my desire of rendering that information authentic, and my reluctance to depend solely upon that memory, now unexpectedly called upon, after a lapse of sixteen years, to enter into a detail of circumstances, the impression of which, though not totally effaced, must naturally be lessened by such a length of time.

I committed to writing many observations, while at Antwerp, on the works of that place, and of my passage to it up the Scheldt from Flushing, and was in hopes that I should have found the journal in which I had inserted them among my papers at this place; but I have lost much time in fruitless and ineffectual search; and, that I may lose no more, I now take up my pen, to answer the several questions which you have stated in your letter, with as much accuracy and precision as I am able, and to the utmost extent of my recollection, and the best of my judgment.

Question. Were not the works, in 1794, in a neglected, and in many parts in a state of decay?

Answer. They appeared to me to have been so long and so totally neglected, and in many parts so much decayed, as would have required considerable time to put them into any tolerable state of defence.

Q. Was there, or not, water in the ditches?

A. The season was very dry, but there was water in the ditches of the citadel. The other ditches of the place were dry, except in a few partial spots, where there might be a

little water, the consequence of land-springs, or some other local or partial cause.

Q. Were the entrances into the town over permanent stone or brick bridges?

A. Yes, but of different construction and strength.

Q. Were there guns mounted on the ramparts?

A. I think, a few, and that I observed some dismounted guns, and likewise some broken carriages.

Q. State of the citadel?

A. In general, in a state of sufficient repair, with some guns mounted. It was used as a magazine for forage, which was set fire to on the 22nd of July, 1794, when the place was evacuated by the English forces.

Q. In what state were the works at the Tête de Flandre? A. In a very respectable state, and considerably improved by a strong working party, which I sent there by order of his Royal Highness the Duke of York.

Q. Did not the suburbs approach close to the gates; and were there not houses and gardens close to the edge of the glacis?

A. Yes, in many parts so much so, and so near, that, to have put the place into a proper state of defence, many houses and gardens must have been destroyed.

I have now, my dear sir, answered, to the best of my recollection and ability, all the questions contained in your letter; not, I trust, with any presumptuous confidence in either my own memory or my own judgment, but with the sincere desire of avoiding, upon a subject which has been productive of such contrariety of opinion, every appearance of partiality, or suspicion of influence in favour of the sentiments or opinions of others.

However, as what I have stated is collected from memory only, and as memory is always fallible, I cannot but wish you would be so good as to consider this communication as merely confidential; and though you, I am afraid, will derive from it