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regard to the regular recurrence of the asthmatic paroxysm at the same period of the year, which has occurred now for four successive years.

I suppose that it is allowed that the lungs themselves are the primary seat of the disease; and I will suppose further that the membrane investing the bronchiæ and the air vesicles of the lungs is the part immediately affected. It must be presumed that this membrane is liable to the same sort of diseases as the other membranes of the body; but the consequences will depend upon the particular situation and functions of the part.

Now among other affections of membranes there is one which, though not very obvious, is not often adverted to; it is that there takes place a species of exfoliation or sloughing; the membrane is destroyed, it is thrown off, and is regenerated. This whole process, of course, takes up some time, during which there must, of necessity, be a derangement of the functions, and suffering of the individual.

We see this phenomenon on the external surface of the body; the epidermis peels off; and occasionally preserves its continuity, and the form of the part which it invested. It comes off the hand or foot like a glove or stocking. At other times it separates in flakes, which is a daily occurrence. But the intestinal evacuations give us more frequent and incontestible evidence of the same fact. Every one must have observed, occasionally, membranes evacuated preserving the form of the intestine. It is much more common at the close of a diarrhoea to observe a number of flakes, or films, floating in the liquid matter of the stool. This is commonly the solution and termination of the disease. These films can be nothing else than an exfoliation of the internal or mucous membrane of the intestine.

It can hardly be doubted that the stomach itself is subject to a similar affection, though it is not possible to ascertain the fact by ocular proof. A person is seized with a constant vomiting, rejecting every thing which is taken into it, which lasts perhaps a month or six weeks. It will then cease, as it were, spontaneously, and be no more heard of. What rational account can be given of such a phenomenon, unless it be what I have often suspected to be the fact, that the internal coat of the stomach exfoliates, and is regenerated?

I have had reason to suspect that the bladder is occasionally subject to a similar affection; and, in general, that none of the mucous surfaces are exempt from it.

We may readily transfer these observations to the mucous membrane lining the bronchiæ. It gives, I think, a more ra

tional account of most of the phenomena of the astomatic paroxysms than any pretended spasm upon the vessels or membranes. It accounts also, not inaptly, for the regular return of the disease. We know that the vital powers of all newly formed parts are weak. It is therefore easily conceivable that, under whatever circumstances the membrane has once perished and been regenerated, the same phenomena will recur under similar circumstances. It may be supposed to have received the same sort or quantity of vital power, as the horns of the stag, or the skin of the snake. It is enough, however, to have thrown out the idea.

As Mr. Newton has himself informed the public that he has introduced this regimen, which I recommend to the valetudinarians, as the regular habit of his family, and has at the same time announced the complete success of the experiment at the period of his publication, I need say no more than that he has continued to follow the same course now for nearly four more years, and that the result has continued to be completely satisfactory. More perfect and even robust health was never displayed among any set of young people. The female head of the family, to whose spirit, independence, and intelligence much of the emancipation from the yoke of vulgar and destructive prejudices must be ascribed, enjoys an activity of mind and body rarely equaled in her sex. Our feeble and delicate countrywomen will perhaps be shocked when they learn that this lady, bred up in habits as delicate and luxurious as the most sensitive of themselves, has been enabled, during the course of this present year, to walk thirty miles in one day. She has a high color, and is full of flesh. Such are the real mischiefs, and such the debility, which are the consequences of a vegetable regimen, when used by persons of good health and of sound constitutions.

Since the publication of Mr. Newton's work, another child has been added to his family, who is now three years old, and who has been dieted on the same plan. This child, like the others, is distinguished for health, vigor, and beauty.

Among this family of five children, there has been during eight years one example of an external disease. It was my wish and intention to give a detail of the circumstances; but I am prevented by injunctions with which I feel it necessary to comply. I must content myself, therefore, with saying that it continued some months, and then ceased. During its course, the general health continued perfect. We order regimen, as was properly remarked by a professional gentleman, who was a

witness of the facts, for the sake of the general health. As this was unaffected, during the course of this disease, it effected whatever could be reasonably expected from it.

The remaining children have suffered nothing but the most trifling ephemeral attacks, hardly worth mentioning; real illness, such as to require confinement, they have never suffered. The slight affections which have occurred, have been just sufficient to prove that, had they been treated like other children, they would have had no exemption from the common lot.

CASE VII.

Cough, Difficult Breathing, and General Debility.

22d November, 1814.-I am acquainted with this case only from the relation of the patient, the disease having existed before I became acquainted with her. It is shortly as follows:

M- a female servant of Mr. Newton's, about thirty-six years old, had a very indifferent state of health; she was subject to very bad coughs, and had twice attacks, which, from the description given of them, I judge to have been a kind of cynanche laryngea. She had great stricture and difficulty of respiration, and coughed with a hoarse and croupy noise, the perspiration at the same time running off her forehead in torrents. This must have been about the years 1804 or 1805.

This woman, living with and being the nurse-maid to Mr. Newton's children, was easily persuaded to conform to their habits; and the consequence has been very salutary to herself. The disposition to catarrh is removed; nor has she again had any of the apparently croupy attacks. The general health also very much improved, and has indeed been perfectly good.

She lost neither flesh nor color from leaving off animal food, and the strength was unimpaired. She is a woman who looks worn, and would pass for several years older than she really is. But this appearance was formed wholly before she adopted her new habits.

CASE VIII.

Asthma, Debility, and Loss of Flesh.

Sept. 16, 1813.—Mr. P—, a gentleman resident in London, aged thirty-four, had an attack, which was called pleuritic, twelve or fourteen years ago. After this illness, he found himself subject to fits of asthma. The disease increased gradually upon him, and during the years 1806 and 1807, its severity was so great as to render his life miserable. During these years he put himself under the care of Dr. Bree; but the violence of the disorder continued unabated. In the beginning of 1808 he consulted me, and consented to give a fair trial to the regimen I advise in chronic diseases.

I found him thin and pallid, and with the appearance of languor. The bowels were habitually bound, and the evacuations foul and dark. Besides his asthma, he complained of frequent pains of the side. But the pulse was not accelerated. He began his regimen in February, 1808.

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During the first ten months, this gentleman experienced no alleviation of his disease. It was to this case I alluded in my 'Reports on Cancer," p. 184, in these words: "But in a third, nine complete months have elapsed without the smallest apparent alleviation of the symptoms." A large portion of this time was spent under the paroxysms of this painful disease, breathing with much difficulty, unable to lie down in bed, and at the height of the paroxysm, the legs swelled. This last observation was made by Dr. Frampton, senior physician of the London Hospital, who, on one occasion, saw him for me.

At the end of ten months, he began to receive sensible benefit, and he enjoyed an interval of eight months of improved health, and was free from asthma. He then suffered a relapse of considerable severity; the asthma returned, so that for a fortnight, he was unable to get into a bed; and it hung upon him in a less degree for six weeks or two months longer. This relapse came on when he was a short time at Cambridge; but the connection between it and the change of situation was not at that time observed. During the remainder of the year, he had some dyspnoea daily, but nothing that amounted to asthma, or that prevented him from lying comfortably in bed the whole night.

In the beginning of 1810 he had another asthmatic paroxysm, but it was very slight, and of short duration. After this time

the health greatly improved. During the remainder of the year he was free from asthma. He rose in the morning with some thickness of breathing, but it wore off in two or three hours.

The year 1811 was also passed without any asthmatic paroxysm. He was often, from his sensations, under apprehensions that it would return, but it never did so in fact. The approaches to the disease speedily disappeared by an easy and copious expectoration. About this time smoking of stramonium was extolled as a cure of the asthma. Mr. P used it, and found frota it considerable advantage. It relieved the breath, and promoted the expectoration. It is obvious, however, that in these circumstances it is hardly possible to determine what was really gained by this practice.

During these last two years he was very thin, and the countenance, which was naturally pallid, became still more so, with the marks of a diseased habit strongly impressed upon it. But in 1812, the appearance much improved, the color became stronger, the expression of languor vanished from the face, and he was sensible of a considerable increase both of general health and of bodily strength. The tendency to asthma appeared very nearly, if not wholly conquered. Under these circumstances he went on a party of pleasure, at the end of the spring, to the sea side.

He had not, however, left London two days before his asthma returned with all its attendant circumstances. The breathing become laborious, and for a fortnight, nearly, he was unable to lie down in his bed. He returned to London with the asthma still upon him; in town it quickly declined, and left him.

Since that time, now fifteen months, he has had no return of asthmatic paroxysm. In the spring of 1813, he had some thickness of breathing, which was an approach toward his old disesse, but it did not force him to quit his bed, or to raise himself from a horizontal posture. The general state of health is so much improved, that from being an habitual and almost a desperate invalid, he is habitually and permanently well.

It is perfectly clear that the immediate exciting cause of the asthmatic paroxysm which took place in 1812 (the only circumstance like a serious return of the disease for the space of nearly four years), was the removal out of the atmosphere of London to that of the sea coast. Now the impurities of the London atmosphere must be reckoned an unnatural and morbid irritation to the surface of the lungs, and that this irritation causes no wwwwwsiness can be accounted for only by the power of habit. In consequence of this habit, a harmony is established between

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