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approaching apoplexy, and of the good consequences which result from early attending to them.

I select one from the many, because that one is very remarkable and convincing, and I give in the clear and energetic language in which it is told by Dr. Watson, in his admirable lectures on the Principles and Practice of Physic, vol. 1, p. 491.

"The late Dr. Gregory of Edinburgh, used always to mention in his lectures the case of Dr. Adam Ferguson, the celebrated historian, as affording one of the strongest illustrations he ever met with of the benefit that may be derived from timely attention to the avoidance of those circumstances which tend to produce plethora and apoplexy. It is, perhaps, the most striking case of the kind on record. Dr. Ferguson experienced several attacks of temporary blindness some time before he had a stroke of palsy, and he did not take these hints so readily as he should have done. He observed, that while he was delivering a lecture to his class, the papers before him would disappear-vanish from his sight, and reappear again in a few seconds. He was a man of full habit, at one time corpulent and very ruddy, and though by no means intemperate, he lived fully. I say he did. not attend to these admonitions, and at length in the 60th year of his age he suffered a decided shock of

paralysis. He recovered, however, and from that period, under the advice of his friend, Dr. Black, became a strict Pythagorean in his diet, eating nothing but vegetables and drinking only water or milk. He got rid of every paralytic symptom, became even robust and muscular for a man of his time of life, and died in full possession of his mental faculties at the advanced age of 93, upwards of 30 years after his first attack." Sir W. Scott describes him as having been, "long after his 80th year, one of the most striking old men it was possible to look at. His firm step and ruddy cheek contrasted agreeably and unexpectedly with his silver locks, and the dress he wore, much resembling that of the Flemish peasant, gave an air of peculiarity to his whole figure. In his conversation, the mixture of original thinking, with high moral feeling and extensive learning, his love of country, contempt of luxury, and especially the strong subjection of his passions and feelings to the dominion of his reason, made him, perhaps, the most striking example of the stoic philosopher which could be seen in modern days."

So common are affections of the brain of this character, that it has been asserted that one fourth of those who die above 70, perish from these diseases; and there cannot be any doubt that they are becoming

much more rife than formerly. Dr. Heberden states that the number of fatal cases recorded in the bills of mortality at his time was doubled since the commencement of the previous century, and as social habits tend daily more and more to the increase of mental labour in all classes, cases of disorder of the brain of all kinds must be greatly augmented, and must continue to become more numerous; hence they imperiously demand constant watchfulness on the part of individuals, and careful study on the part of physicians.

CHAPTER XI.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN.

WE are informed by Mr. Erasmus Wilson, who has examined with great care and ability, the condition of the skin both in health and disease, that he "counted the perspiratory pores in the palm of the hand, and found 3528 in a square inch. Now the number of square inches of surface in a man of ordinary height and bulk, is 2500-the number of pores therefore 7,000,000.-( Treatise on Healthy Skin,' p. 342.) Well might that gentleman exclaim, "What if this drainage be obstructed ?" Yet it is often obstructed, and hence there arise many and various diseases at all periods of life, but as age advances it becomes habitually obstructed. The skin, as has been explained, becomes dry, harsh, wrinkled, and discoloured; and almost ceases to be an excretory organ. The capillaries, which are distributed over the surface of the body, and keep up a constant transudation from it, have become nearly obliterated, and perspiration is almost at an end. When then the

importance of the skin as a secreting organ is considered, it will be easy to understand that many evils may result from the cessation of its functions, and hence the importance of preserving the integrity of those functions as completely and as long as possible.

In early and middle life the skin appears to be the great safety valve by means of which sudden outbursts and irregularities are remedied, excess or deficiency in the actions of various organs compensated, and the true balance between the actions of the various parts of the animal machine, preserved or restored. The sweating stage of a fit of ague indicates, that (for the time at least,) the diseased action has passed by, and a healthy condition is about to be re-established; a sweat is the natural and healthful conclusion of all fevers, and the best symptom of the decline of all inflammatory affections. If the action of the heart be suddenly and alarmingly increased, a profuse sweat will often break forth and obviate, the danger. The transudation from the skin is diminished if the kidneys act profusely, but increased if their action be deficient; thus, too, we pass much more water in cold than in hot weather, and even in cases of obstinate obstruction in the alimentary canal, the skin often seems to make an attempt at compensation. It is well said by Revielle Pariset, (Traité de la Vieillesse,'

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