rence of the hæmorrhage which constitutes menstruation-without having recourse to supposing that there is any necessary solution of continuity.

4. That the vertical position, favoring still more the effects of sanguineous congestion on the generative organs, may be one of the principal reasons of the abundance of the menstrual flux in women, and in some species of simiæ.

5. That, for want of having precise information as to the nature and theory of menstruation, it has been hitherto impossible to establish a rational treatment of the various disorders induced by irregularities of this function.

6. That it is not yet sufficiently proved that the ovula arrive successively to maturity at each menstrual epoch, or that the most mature ovum then approaches nearer the surface of the ovarium, there to become ruptured and give exit to a germ.-L'Experience.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN's Estimate of Animal Magnetism.

FRANKLIN thus writes to M. De La Condamine.

You desire my sentiments concerning the cures performed by Camus and Mesmer. I think, in general, maladies caused by obstructions, may be treated by electricity with advantage. As to the animal magnetism, so much talked of, I must doubt its existence till I can see or feel some effect of it. None of the cures said to be performed by it have fallen under my observation, and there being so many disorders which cure themselves, and such a disposition in mankind to deceive themselves and one another, on these occasions, and living long, has given me so frequent opportunities of seeing certain remedies cried up as curing every thing, and yet soon after totally laid aside as useless, I cannot but fear that the expectation of great advantage from this new method of treating diseases will prove a delusion. That delusion may, however, in some cases be of use while it lasts. There are in every great, rich city, a number of persons, who are never in health, because they are fond of medicines, and always taking them, whereby they derange the natural functions, and hurt their constitution. If these people can be persuaded to forbear these drugs, in expectation of being cured by only the physician's finger, or an iron rod pointing at them, they may possibly find good effects, though they may mistake the cause."

*

I have the honor to be, &c.

Dublin Med. Press, July 21, 1841.

B. FRANKLIN.

*In writing to Dr. Ingenhousz, some time afterwards on this subject, Dr. Franklin said, "Mesmer is still here and has still some adherents and some practice. It is surprising how much credulity still subsists in the world. I suppose all the physicians in France put together, have not made so much money, during the time he has been here, as he alone has done. And we have now a fresh folly. A magnetiser pretends, that he can, by establishing what is called a rapport between any person and a somnambule, put it in the power of that person to direct the actions of the somnambule, by a simple strong volition only, without speaking or making any signs; and many people daily flock to see this strange operation."-Sparks' Life of Franklin.

OBITUARY NOTICES.

It is with deep regret we announce the death of Dr. GEORGE S. SPROSTON, one of the oldest Surgeons in the United States Navy. Dr. S. had been for a considerable time in a very precarious state of health, and calmly and resignedly closed his life in this city on the evening of Friday, the 28th January, leaving an interesting family to bemoan the sad and afflicting bereavement. In his death the service has lost one of its brightest ornaments, and society, a most estimable member. Dr. S. was an educated and accomplished gentleman, pure minded and honorable in all the relations of life. We insert with pleasure the following tribute to his memory, from one who knew him well.

"In the lamented death of George S. Sproston, M.D. who recently died on the Baltimore station, the United States Navy has lost one of its senior Surgeons, and one of its best, and most intelligent men. He entered the service as an AssistantSurgeon in 1813, promoted in 1818, graduated as a doctor of medicine at Harvard, cruised in very many of our public vessels, and in almost every climate; but whether we view him as an assistant-surgeon, fleet-surgeon, or as a member of a naval medical board, he was ever found intelligent in the highest degree, ever attentive to the arduous duties required of him, and one of the most conscientious of surgeons, as every officer and seaman that ever knew him, or came under his kind care, can testify. The Navy will long deplore the loss of their valued friend, messmate, and shipmate. He is taken from them, and those dear ones, in whose sad bereavement, all cannot but sympathize, but let them not mourn, as their loss is his eternal gain." W.

DIED-On the 9th inst., at his late residence in Anne-Arundel county, Md. Dr. GUSTAVUS MCELHINEY, in the 46th year of his age.

DIED-At Centreville, Maryland, on the 4th March, Dr. GEORGE W. THOMAS.

THE

MARYLAND

Medical and Surgical Journal.

APRIL, 1842.

MONOGRAPH ON THE YELLOW FEVER.

BY ISAAC HULSE, M.D. UNITED STATES NAVY.*

THE numerous treatises which have been given to the world on the yellow fever, might lead many to suppose that any further attempt to throw light upon it would be a work of supererogation; but no work has yet appeared, in which the author has shown himself capable of tracing the remote and proximate causes of this destructive malady, or of laying down a successful mode of treatment for it in all its phases.

I cannot presume to be prepared to supply these desiderata, but such remarks as have been suggested by the experience I have had in several epidemics of this disease, are now with great diffidence submitted.

This is admitted to be a disease of hot climates and an alluvial soil-it does not exist in the mountainous districts of the West Indies and of tropical America, but it is epidemic in the low parts, in the vicinity of æstuaries and marshes. It is also

*The author acknowledges himself indebted to Dr. Copeland, for some of the physiological illustrations contained in this treatise.

VOL. II.-No. 4.

1

epidemic, in some of the southern states upon an alluvial soil, and particularly at the debouchement of rivers. Nor is it usually epidemic in these localities, except after a summer of excessive heat and drought-during seasons where there is an abundance of rain throughout, the disease does not, as far as I can understand, make its appearance. Hence it has been inferred by most writers that it originates in those effluvia which arise from dead animal and vegetable matter, and the inference appears to be pretty well supported.

During the past season, the atmospheric temperature at this point has been unusually high and long continued, yet an immunity from the disease was hoped for at Pensacola, from the copious rains that fell in the early part of summer, inasmuch as it has never been known to appear here during a wet season. However, the months of August and September proved to be excessively dry, yet it was not till the latter part of September that some cases appeared in that city, chiefly among persons not acclimated.

At Mobile the disease did not appear, at least, not as an epidemic, and the question naturally arises why that city lying so near to us should have been exempt, and yet having in its vicinity the elements usually so fruitful in producing it. I have attempted to answer the question by assuming, that early in the summer the rains were so abundant as to swell the rivers, having their delta opposite Mobile, to such a degree as to keep the marshes supplied with living water, and the course of those rivers is so long that these sources were not exhausted till the occurrence of the timely rains in October.

The course of the Escambia, on the contrary, is short, and its supplies failed upon its extensive delta before the hot season had passed. (The delta of the Escambia is about ten miles from Pensacola, and about sixteen from the Navy-yard.)

On board the Levant, sloop of war, we have numerous facts to prove that there existed a cause additional to that in the atmosphere, in the foul state of the hold of the ship. This ship was lying opposite to Pensacola during the month of August, and on the last day of that month four cases of yellow fever were

sent from her to the hospital. In three or four days she dropped down to the Navy-yard, was dismantled and her crew were sent on shore at the yard, a portion of them, still communicating with her, and on the last day of September ninety-nine cases of the yellow fever had been admitted at the hospital from her officers and crew. New cases continued to occur among the ship's company, now located at the Navy-yard, until we received thirtynine more cases, making in all one hundred and thirty-eight cases from that single ship. The disease did not disappear till the 5th of November, after several severe frosts.

During the whole of this time not more than one or two well attested cases occurred, having their origin at the Navy-yard, among all the officers, seamen, marines, mechanics and laborers connected with that establishment. Not one case occurred among the officers and attendants of this hospital, which is located on a bluff, one mile west from the Navy-yard, and about a mile and a half from the sea.

Several instances occurred in which persons who had been cured of the disease, returned and exposed themselves again to the infection on board, and had a fresh attack, possessing all the characteristics of the first; in general, these second attacks were more severe than the first, and in one, it was fatal. In addition to these cases of second attack, John Tinges, a boatswain's mate was the subject of a severe attack of this disease this year; he had had the yellow fever at Pensacola in 1822, while attached to General Jackson's army.

The French vessels of war La Sabine and Le Dunois, after having fourteen cases, five of which proved fatal, dropped down to the Navy-yard, and on the 26th of September commenced sending their patients to this hospital as soon as practicable after the attack. After their arrival here, they had eighteen cases, two only of which proved fatal. The disease ceased on board on the 7th of October, and on the 12th they re-embarked all their convalescents, and sailed a few days after for Havana. In the case of these vessels the disappearance of the disease must be attributed to their change of position to a healthy atmos