disposed subjects. A cider-manufacturer, with whom Dr. Chapman was acquainted, was obliged to desist from his occupation, finding the mere odour of the liquid sufficient to excite a paroxysm.

The theoretical objections of Sydenham to the use of purgatives in the treatment of gout, are strongly opposed by our author, who places his chief reliance on this class of remedies; but he has sometimes found emetics useful, especially in the case of a gentleman who was constantly attacked with the complaint whenever he visited a badly-drained estate on the banks of the Susquehana.

Rheumatism. Dr. Chapman, in reference to the practice introduced by Brocklesby, of administering large doses of nitrate of potash in the treatment of rheumatism, remarks that an ounce of that remedy, daily, is more than most stomachs will bear. This observation is not easily reconciled with his own recommendation of still larger doses in the treatment of dropsy. After noticing atrophy of the muscles as an occasional result of rheumatism, he adds:

"Marasmus of the muscles takes place occasionally without any appreciable rheumatism, or if such attacks as I allude to are of this nature, they must be of the kind vulgarly called dumb rheumatism, devoid of expression by symptoms. The disease mostly comes on with no premonition, sometimes when the individual seems to be in good health, and the first indication of it is the obvious wasting of one or more of the large muscles, usually those of the neck or back, or hips, with corresponding imperfection in the motions dependent on those muscles. Gradually, other muscles become involved to a greater or less extent, and emaciation proceeds in them till it is extreme, and all sorts of distortions and deformities are exhibited. For a long period, the general system seems to sustain little or no detriment from this morbid process, and the digestive functions are, to all appearance, actively performed, but, ultimately, febrile irritation arising, the result is rapidly hastened. Five cases of this extraordinary affection 1 have seen, all brought to me from the country, the whole of which ended disastrously. Three of these were brothers, and the fourth, a nephew of them, is now under the care of Drs. Jackson, Mitchell, and myself; and I have heard that another member of the same connexion has been similarly affected." (p. 438.)

We are anxious not to overlook any remedies to which a practical physician of so much experience attaches importance. He considers savin, when continued perseveringly till warmth, itching, or eruption, arises, especially useful in lessening rigidity of joints from extravasation, and in arresting absorption in marasmus of the muscles.

In rheumatic affections of the chest, as well as in spasmodic asthma, he has observed much benefit to accrue from administering the juice of the fresh berry of the phytolacca decandria, or an ounce of the tincture three times a day.

Dr. Chapman is not disposed to trouble himself with experiments regarding the virtues of iodide of potassium, for reasons which we will quote:

"Well-tried remedies, like well-tried friends, I always adhere to, and am very slow and reluctant to abandon either without sufficient grounds. To do it in the former instance shows a weak and credulous head, and, in the latter, a capricious and depraved heart." (p. 445.)

But we must abandon our "old friend" Dr. Chapman; for, notwithstanding the merits which we acknowledge him to possess, we are heartily

wearied with the confusion of his facts, the intricacy of his thoughts, and the obscurity of his language. The work, as our readers must have perceived, is not deficient in materials which a skilful hand might have erected into a stately monument to the honour of science; but the actual author has suffered these materials to remain a disorderly heap-unshapen and uncemented. We have rarely encountered a more striking evidence of the necessity, to the medical practitioner, of that early mental discipline, without which, the greatest industry, the longest experience, and the most accurate memory, are likely to prove almost useless in the service of science; and we finish our laborious task with increased anxiety, that such improvements in preliminary medical education may speedily be introduced, as shall render infrequent the faults which it becomes our duty so often, and, on the present occasion, so particularly to deplore.

ART. IV.

Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Bombay for the Years 1842 and 1843. pp. 196; pp. 250.—Bombay, 1842-3.

IN the present days of bookmaking, when the press is teeming with works so numerous that it would require a person's undivided time to peruse them, periodical literature assumes an importance which under other circumstances could not be claimed for it. It becomes the channel through which many, whose avocations necessarily occupy a large portion of their time, become acquainted with what is going on in the literary and scientific world, and who, by the notice taken of the emanations from the press, are led either to read them as being valuable contributions to the information on the subjects of which they treat, or to pass them over as undeserving of the time required for a careful perusal. On this account Reviews' in the present day deservedly occupy a very prominent position. But there is another branch of periodical literature which also is of much value, comprising those 'Journals' set apart for original communications, and the Transactions' of learned societies. By means of these, observations, cases, and papers, which although valuable in themselves, and often leading to important results, would not be of sufficient consequence to warrant the publication of a monograph, are brought under the notice of the profession. This class of periodicals is particularly available to officers in the public service, who enjoy many excellent opportunities of collecting facts and making important observations, but who from the numerous demands upon their time, especially in unhealthy colonies, are unable to work up their materials into a volume, and even did circumstances permit this, are unwilling to risk the expense of publication, especially when at a distance, and unable to superintend it themselves.

The volumes now before us we consider to be of high value, as affording a channel through which medical officers in India can make known to the profession the results of their observations in that wide and rich field for the cultivation of physical and medical science, which has hitherto been much neglected or at least but partially improved. Considering the disadvantages under which these officers labour, from the numerous demands

upon their time, the amount of mental exertion required in the discharge of their duties, and the enervating effects of the climate, we cannot but look upon these Transactions as highly creditable to all concerned in their production.

The Medical and Physical Society of Bombay was established in November 1835, its principal object being to collect and disseminate information on the medical and physical sciences. In furtherance of these views, it was proposed to publish, half-yearly if practicable, a volume containing," 1st, original communications, whether received from members, or from government, or from the medical board, which shall be recommended for publication by the committee of papers; 2d, a report for the past halfyear, drawn up by the secretary of the society from such documents as may have been placed at the disposal of the society by government or the medical board,this report to be read at a meeting of the society before publication; and 3d, an appendix consisting of selections of interest from medical works and periodicals." The society seems to have received every assistance from the authorities; the local government having assented to the transmission of all letters on the business of the society, under the signature or to the address of its secretary, free of postage; and having given permission to have its circulars printed at the government press. The medical board and deputy-inspector-general of hospitals also became patrons of the society, and placed at its disposal the returns and reports in their offices, while the same facilities were afforded them by the medical authorities at Madras. Under such auspices the society could scarcely fail of success. Some modifications have been found necessary in its arrangements, but on the whole it seems to be in a flourishing condition. An annual volume has been published instead of a half-yearly, and the proposed report by the secretary does not appear to have been drawn up. We do not doubt that the society has been productive of much good by stimulating the industry of the medical officers in the Presidency. It is a matter of regret that a similar volume of transactions has never been got up in this country by the army medical department, which might easily be done were similar encouragements held out by the government and medical board as in India.

We do not propose to enter into a detailed consideration of the papers contained in the volumes before us, but shall briefly notice one or two of the most important. Before doing so we may remark, that in the fifth volume is given a recapitulation of the titles of the papers in the four preceding, a reference to which will show those interested in the subject the nature of the contributions which this society has been the means of eliciting.

The first paper we shall notice is a "Medico-historical abstract of the first year's service in the East Indies of H. M. 14th regiment of Light Dragoons at Kirkee, under the Bombay Presidency, by J. W. Moffat, esq. surgeon, H. M. 14th Light Dragoons." Kirkee is the only station in this Presidency provided with permanent accommodation for a regiment of European cavalry. It is about 60 miles up the country E.S.E. from Bombay, at an elevation of 1820 feet above the level of the sea, and is celebrated as the spot where, in 1817, Mr. Elphinstone's subsidiary force scarcely numbering 3000 Sepoys, under Colonel Burr, repulsed a sudden attack

made upon them by upwards of 20,000 Mahrattas. The barracks were erected in 1827, are well constructed, and calculated to afford excellent accommodation for a regiment 700 strong. There is a good hospital, built in 1830, capable of holding 120 patients, and allowing 1100 cubic feet of space to each.* Besides a good description of the station, this paper contains many judicious remarks on the causes of diseases to which soldiers are more particularly exposed on their first arrival in India; the best means of avoiding or diminishing these, and the plan of treatment which our author found most successful. He has drawn up some excellent tables, showing the strength and deaths of the different ranks, and the influence of age and length of service in India upon the mortality. We do not intend to enter upon these points as the data are insufficient, and the period of observation too short, to warrant positive deductions being drawn, but if similar abstracts are furnished by the medical officers at Kirkee for a series of years, they will afford the means of elucidating several still controverted points. We trust that by thus calling attention to them, officers at other stations may be induced to follow Mr. Moffat's example.

In treating of the interior economy of the regiment our author says:

"Tables and forms are provided also for the convenience of messing, and a scale of diet is laid down, and furnished by government at a reduced rate to the soldier. The daily ration drawn for each man, not in hospital nor in imprisonment, is—bread, Í lb., second sort; beef, 1 lb.; rice, 4 oz.; salt, 2 oz.; coffee or tea, oz.; sugar, 14 oz.; firewood, 3 lbs. ; with one dram of arrack at the option of the soldier, to be consumed at three regular meals, breakfast, dinner, and supper. The men are messed in squads of four, and native cooks are entertained at a small weekly cost, who are further engaged to provide milk for the tea or coffee, butter, eggs, steaks, chops, additional vegetables, cheese, &c., as they may be occasionally asked for by varying tastes and appetites. The station being in such proximity to a populous city, (Poona, 24 miles distant,) all sorts of supplies are procurable in abundance, and little could be altered in the ration for the advantage of the men beyond the occasional variety of mutton. The supply of vegetables is probably wisely left to the choice of the messes; and for the rice, which is not much relished, over and above what is used for the soup, unless when curried meat is the order of the day, the cooks are not averse to substitute carrots, onions, country greens, and occasionally pumpkins, yams, &c. A dram of spirits still continues to be offered to the men at dinner time, and an inducement to take it is held out in its issue at a lower rate by one fourth than its ordinary retail price. The issue of a ration dram is a relic of former times, when salt meat and stale provisions were the ordinary and only rations provided; but surely it may be well dispensed with when mixed provisions of an excellent and wholesome quality are supplied, and its continuance leads to a wrong impression of its utility and necessity."

The spirit ration has been long abolished in our other possessions, and we can see no good reason for its being retained in India. It is true the soldier is not now as formerly compelled to swallow it or to throw it away, lest he should sell it to some thirsty comrade, but as he is offered it at a lower rate than he could purchase it at, he looks upon it as part of the reward for his services, and rather than give up any of his rights he

The author of the paper states 1100 cubic inches, but this is evidently a mistake. He has fallen into the same error regarding the space in barracks, which he states at 1400 cubic inches. By a calculation made from the dimensions of the rooms, as given in this paper, the cubic space to each man appears to be about 1000 feet.

accepts it. By this practice not only is the intemperate confirmed and encouraged in his vicious habits, but the young soldier is induced to commence a system of dram-drinking, acquires a fondness for it, and is soon converted into a drunkard, unfit to be trusted, a disgrace to the service, a burden to himself, and a nuisance to every one connected with him. We have frequently heard officers inveigh against the debauchery and drunkenness of the soldier in India, but is not much of the blame attributable to those who thus tempt him onward in his career of intemperance? To Sir Henry Hardinge the army is deeply indebted for the abolition of the spirit ration in 1830, and most sincerely do we trust that he will take advantage of his present exalted position to extend this boon to the troops in India, and to remove finally and completely this source of disease, insubordination, and crime.

A ration of spirits was originally issued from a mistaken idea that it conduced to the preservation of health, but we fear it is not issued now from any idea of benefit to the soldier, but for the sake of the large profits accruing from the canteens, and the duty on arrack, to the Hon. Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies. If our conjecture is right we may well say, in the words of Lord Liverpool, "This is too bad."

The above description offers a very enviable picture of the condition of the cavalry soldier in India, at least when not on field service. To illustrate the great improvement that has taken place in this respect, through the force of public opinion, and the gradual progress of civilization, we subjoin a statement, by one who had practical experience of it, of the mode of messing troops in Ceylon in 1803, and we have reason to believe the description was applicable, at that time, to India. Of the truth of this account we entertain no doubt, although, contrasting it with the preceding, it seems scarcely credible, because we know that the same system was in operation fifteen years afterwards: it has only been during the last twentyfive years that these improvements have been effected.

"When the meat was brought to the cooking-place, it was thrown down upon a dirty mat, and chopped up, then the cooks sat down upon their hams, placing a knife between their toes, and cut it up into small pieces; and thus daubed all about, and without even being washed, it was boiled in curry, the rice being boiled at the same time in another earthen vessel, called a chattie, as all their boiling is done in earthen vessels, and then brought into the barracks at twelve o'clock, when the soldiers gathered round them like as many voracious hounds, with their chatties in their hands, bawling blasphemy, and grumbling, not so much at the quality as the quantity of their food.

"At night we got what was called supper, which consisted of a small cake, made of rice flour and water, and a liquid called coffee, although there was not a single grain of the berry in it. What we used for sugar was called jaggery (a coarse kind of sugar, made in Ceylon, from the cocoa-nut,) which was made up in cakes, very insipid and dirty; it bore no resemblance to the sugar used in Europe. At eight o'clock in the morning we got breakfast brought to us in the same manner; it consisted of the same cake, fish, or bullock's liver, and jaggerywater, and this formed the daily diet of the British troops in Ceylon. Had it been of good quality, and properly cooked, it was well enough: our allowance of liquor, which was arrack, was one quart per day, to five men, or about two drams

to each.

"The beef, of which we had a pound per day, was given out along with the rice in the morning, for which sixpence per day was kept off our pay. But it