The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-18
neral irnhecillity ofi .is fame o. fcoI tosne pc
culiar quality Of ths electric fluid.
COainvmcArsow-oa tie Preceding Gaze.

Iyeiteu anu employed 10y the phytCianS who al
iemtled on this location The copious afuGon
OF cold water, bleeding, and fii6tionand warmth.
in the preient Imperfect rate of medical phiio-
iophy, 1t would betray much ignorance ard pre-
fumption, to reaion otherwife than with ex-
! treme fcepticiim, on the probable proprety or
actual effects OF thefe different plans. NIedi-
cine at prefent is probably little more than far
raso Of detached faces and ingenious theories.
All that can be accomplished by one, who does
not aipire to the honour of original diicoverv,
or enjoy the advantages of practice and extern
live obiervation, is to examine the propriety of
different modes of cure, according to the prin-
ciples of the moit celebrated theories. This will
now be attempted, but with the diffideuce which
very superficial acquaintance with thsie theo-
RES naturally excites. Browns elements exhi-
bit probably the boldeft, the mott comprehen-
hive, and the mott correct outline of the princi-
Piles of life, that has ever been delineated. Ac-
cording TO the Brunonian theory, the potent
ftinulus, applied TO the young mans fyRem,
mutt have produced ftatc of indirect debility,
or, In other words, mutt have almoft exhauled
the principle of life. Friction, fermentation, and
the mott powerful fimuli, external and internal,
would feem, according to thefe principles, to
have been the mott immediate and etfeetual
means OF relief. Query--would not ftrone
electric ihock have produced beneficial effect
| Browns theory interdi6ts the ufe of all debita-
ting powers in cafes of indirect debility. Experi
| ence, however, the only fable foundation & pro-
per criterion of Philosophical theory, recon-
mends & fanctions the affufion of coldwater. We
mutt, therefore, endeavour to explain the way
| in which it operates and as no light can be de-
rived from the Elements of Medicine" we
mutt direct our attention to another theory, in
many refpectS coincident with, and fcarcely lefs
celebrated than that of Brown. According to
the principles of Economic, the affufion of cold
water mutt have produced torpor of the Gu
taneous cap;llaries, and by fympathy, torpor
OF the pulmonary capillariss. The torpor or
diminithed action of 10 eXtcnfive fyfen of
veiieiS, by preventing the expenditure, mutt
have cauied REORGANIZATION of fcnforial pow
er, and thus promoted the recovery of the pa
tent. At the fame time it is proper TO obferve,
that according to Darwin the aiuion of cold
water too long continued, mutt have extended
the torpor to the fanguiferous fytem and accele-
rated death. Bleeding, altho forbidden by the
9" Elements of Medicine" has received the
fanctipn of experience, and its beneficial effects
admit of atolerably satisfactory explanation from
the principles of Doctor Ruth. The little life
that remained, mutt have been fpeedilv and en-
tirely eXhaufed by the effort neceiiary to prope
| the volume of blood thro' the intricate labv-
! rinths of the arteral and venous iyftems. Co
pious bleeding, by diminiihine the labour of
life in carrying on the circulation, would fem
to have prevented its exhauftion, and by quick
ening the circulation thro' the lungs probably
caufed an additional quantity of vital air to
combine with the blood, and thereby, according
to Beddoes, encreafed the quantity of life in the
fyfem. The propriety of Friction and diffnfble
ftimuli, forthe purpofe of Completing the ref
tcratiofi Of health, is tuo obvious TO require
comment or illuftration.
The preceding curfory and superficial OFFER
!vations were written foley for the purpofe of
exciting the curiofty and exercifing the insenu-
ty OF the medical ftudents in Richmond. wsb
two of whom the writer has the happinefs to be
intimately acquainted. In his deductions from
the celebrated theories to which he refers, he
has probably been betrayed into error. About
this circumstance he INDUCES but little fenfibili-
ty. The detection of fuch errors REQUIRES inge-
nuity and information. 1.-THE perufal of his re-
marks ihould induce Jingle ftudent of active
and ingenious mind, TO read with additional at
tention the reafonings of Brown and Darwin, or
to weigh with awakened earnennels their pro-
found fpecuiations, his wiGles will be amplv
grati6ed.
| PYRRHO.