The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-04
DOORS OF THE HUMAN BODY.

can Neurological Association, DR..
Hammond called attention to some
facts in regard to the natural Odor of
the body in the human species, and
Of the faculty which some Of the lower
animals possessed, that Of ditferenti-
ating between the odors of different
individuals. Besides the inherent
odor of the body, there was reason for
believing that an entire different one
may be given off, not only as a con-
sequence of disease, but as a result of
emotional disturbance. During the
middle ages, manifestations OF the
kind in question were not uncommon
in the persons of.both sexes, and were
attributed to miraculous power. That
such cases existed was probable, not
however, as a special gift OF God, but
as neurosis similar to other instances
which had come under the doctor S
own observation. Cases were then
cited, of number of the more i'm
portant instances among the saints,
who were considered highly odorifer-
Gus. So far as the author OF the paper
was aware, there had been no attention
given to the subject in the relations
now under notice. The cases cited by
DR.. Hammond as bearing upon this
point briefly as follows:
A young married lady of strong
hysterical tendencies, from whom,
during a paroXysm, an agreeable odor,
similar to that of violets, was exhaled
only from the left lateral half of the
anterior wall of the chest. At such
times the perspiration was remarkably
increased in this region, as compared
with the corresponding part opposite.
The odor was perceptible at distance
of several feet, but entirely absent
during the intervals Of the paroxysms.
From an examination of an alcoholic
extract of the odoriferous perspira-
ton exhaled by this patient, it was
dueNto the presence of butyric ether.
The local application of several reme-
dies to the parts, among which were
preparations of carbolic acid, soap and
water. and other alkaline substances,
gave the patient only temporary relief
from the odor; but the internal
administration of the salicylate of
soda, in doses Of five grains, entirely
cured this lady other violaceous odor,
and the perspiratiOn of the region was
reduced to the normal character.
A second case was that of a young
lady in whom the first exhibition of
the odOr lin this case that of pine
apple) occurred contemporaneously
with an attack of chorea.
In third case pineapple Odor was
emitted from the skin of the head,
and chest of a woman whenever she
was angry.
A fourth case was that Of man
who, during frequent hypochondriacal
periods, emitted a violaceous Odor.
Occasionally cases were met with
| from whom disagreeable odor was
exhaled during sexual excitement.
No opinion as to the actual and i'm.
mediate cause of these odorous
emanations was expressed. further
than that they were due to a nervous
disturbance.
DR. Hammond passed around a small
vial containing an alcohlic extract OF
the odoriferous perspiration of his
first. patient, which had a distinct
violet smell; also a second vial Of the
same extract, with the addition OF
| bicarbonate of soda, smelling strOngl,
of pineapple.
The paper was discussed by Drs
Jewell, Beard, Hammond, Seguin
Hamilton. and Spitzka, cases of {
similar nature to those mentioned in
in DR.. Hammond's paper being cited