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"tory diathesis, anodynes are seldom to be al"lowed, the mischief that have proceeded from "healing anodynes of quacks in the hands of ignorance are scarcely to be enumerated."

Dr. Reece, in his Domestic Medical Guide, under the head of consumption, makes the following observation, "The advertised nostrums from the

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anodyne stimulating ingredients of which they "are made, have certainly accelerated the fatal "termination of consumption. To the use of "these medicines, sold under the name of cough

drops, and as pretended balsams of vegetables, "the chief cause of the melancholy frequency of "these complaints may be justly referred, for "there can be no doubt but by proper treatment "the progress of incipient consumption may be "checked, which by these medicines is hastened "to a state of suppuration and consequent ulce"ration." Page 189.

Mr. James Parkinson, in his Medical Admonitions on the subject of catarrh, states, "most of the "nostrums advertised as cough drops, &c. are "preparations of opium, similar to the paregoric "elixir of the shops, but disguised and rendered more deleterious by the addition of aromatic and

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healing gums; the injury which may be occa"sioned by the indiscriminate employment of "such medicines in this disease may be very considerable, as is well known by every person "possessing even the smallest share of medicalknowledge."

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Dr. Allen is likely to make a conspicuous figure in the history of empirical practitioners, having in the course of a few months, added no less than three nostrums to this respectable list, and attested the efficacy of another (an itch ointment,) in the provincial papers. Having devoted so much of

our work to the balsam of liquorice, we are sorry we cannot enter so fully into these subsequent inventions as they appear to merit. His "HIGHLY ESTEEMED VEGETABLE ALTERATIVE PILIS," are recommended for the cure of scurvy, common eruptions, scrophula, leprosy, chronic "rheumatism, and various obstructions."

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Dr. Allen observes, "that he cannot derogate "from his established character by the publication "of cases, nor can he degrade the vegetable pills "by any appearance of competition with nostrums, "whose best merits arise out of their insignificance." The learned Doctor observes, that "the small proportion of vegetable food consumed by the English as an article of diet, and the "vicissitudes in temperature to which Englishmen are so peculiarly exposed, conspire to render us "particularly prone to this disease."-As a proof of the preventive and the specific powers of vegetables in scurvy, he notices the long voyages of Captain Cooke, who (he observes,) traversed the globe from pole to pole, and after experiencing almost every privation, lost not a man by scurvy !!! Which he attributes to the Captain's enforcing both by authority and example an enlarged use of vegetables, by which, we suppose, he means to infer, that his vegetable pills, like his balsam of liquorice, contain in a remarkable concentrated state, by a peculiar chymical process, all the antiscorbutic virtues of cabbage, lettuces, &c. &c.Although Dr. Allen condemns the use of mineral preparations in scorbutic complaints, we do not believe that he would venture to swear positively. that his vegetable pills are entirely exempt from some of them.

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The other two medicines invented by Dr. Allen, he terms "HIGHLY INVALUABLE ANTIBILIOUS

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ELIXIR AND PILLS," justly celebrated for the cure of dyspepsia, or indigestion, and every bilious affection, as well as those diseases which are connected with, and arise from disordered stomach and liver, viz. "gout, gall stone, calculus in kidney "and bladder, hysteric, hypocondriasis, or vapours, paralytic tremblings, &c. and other nervous dis

"eases.

After the long title given to these medicines, and the specification of the diseases, for the cure of which they are so warmly recommended by the proprietor, we judge it unnecessary to make any comment, particularly as we have to notice the antibilious pills of the Rev. Mr. Barclay; the observation we shall there make on bilious and nervous complaints will equally apply to these medicines. We shall therefore for the present take our leave of Dr. Allen, by seriously recommending him and his valuable discoveries to the attention of the court and censors of the Royal College of Physicians.

We have refrained from making any observation on the addition of M. D. to the proprietor's titles, on account of its belonging to the 2d number, where we beg leave to assure him it shall not pass unnoticed.

"THE BALSAM OF LUNGWORT," Prepared by Mr. Perrin, CHYMIST, SouthamptonStreet, Covent-Garden.

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Mr. Perrin, in his advertisement, observes, that a transcript of all that has been written by"Boerhaave, Culpepper, and other antient and "modern authors, in praise of lungwort, as a "remedy for coughs, colds, asthmas, and most

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"diseases of the breast and lungs, would form many "volumes. Indeed, its very name, not only clearly, " but forcibly indicates its powers." In favor of the balsam now respectfully recommended to the public, Mr. Perrin will merely observe, that "it is accurately prepared on the most approved chymical principles, contains all the essential virtues of this "celebrated and invaluable gift of nature divested "of its inert parts-is rendered perfectly pleasing "to the taste, has been found in numberless in

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stances to produce all the good effects its warmest "advocates can promise, or the most afflicted de66 serve. As a cough medicine, it is unequalled by any in the known world, and it is hoped will prove a blessing to the present and future gene"rations!!!"

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Can the non-medical world from a perusal of this address, form any other conclusion than this medicine really contains in a concentrated state, (as the proprietor states,) the "essential virtues of the herb "from whence it is named, and that it is equally "innocent?" Every medical man must know, however, that the lungwort possesses no property that can be deemed balsamic, and that its medicinal virtues cannot be concentrated with a spirituous menstruum, as a tea-spoonful, or even Mr. Perrin's largest size bottle, to contain a dose of the virtues of the herb. The efficacy of the lungwort in pulmonary complaints is to be attributed to the mucilage, which is not imparted to spirit with which this medicine is made, and even if it were the spirit must more than counteract any salutary effect that could be expected from it. We believe no practitioner of the present day will coincide in opinion with the author's Mr. P. has mentioned; subsequent and ample experience give no countenance to its virtues, and it has therefore deservedly fell into disuse. On

examining Mr. Perrin's "balsam of lungwort,*"* we do not discover that it is, in the smallest degree, impregnated with the virtues of the lungwort, and nothing more than paregoric elixir, the use of which, in every species of cough, must be attended with incalculable mischief. The observations we have made on the balsam of liquorice, equally apply to this nostrum, and we cannot but express our astonishment, that Mr. Perrin, who styles himself a CHYMIST, should publicly recommend a preparation which every medical man must be aware from the title, cannot be made.

Mr. Perrin, it seems, for many years, prepared the fever powder for the late Dr. James, and it is but justice to observe, that he has sold them at half the price Mr. Newberry now vends them, and we can state that they are equally well prepared, and not less efficacious. Mr. P. likewise, in his price of the balsam of lungwort, displays more moderation than his cotemporary advertisers,

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SODAIC POWDER,

Prepared by Mr. Burkitt, Chymist.

This preparation is recommended as a ready and easy method for making soda water. The following is a copy of the proprietor's address, taken from a Sunday's Paper.

Soda Water." The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully informed, that A. S. Burkitt, Chy"mist, has prepared a powder, with which a "tumbler of the above water may be made at

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