fcript; and the bufinefs was conducted with fuch laudable, but, for fuch a body, unufual fecrecy, that the smallest idea of the defign, until the effect was publickly diclofed by the accounts from India, did not tranfpire, even in this country.

The company had alfo the fortune, that the inftructions were conveyed with unusual expedition to Madrafs and preparations were accordingly immediately made for undertaking the fiege of Pondicherry. Major General Monroe, who now commanded the company's troops on the coaft of Coromandel, had affembled part of the force Aug. 8th. defined for the fiege, on a $37781 spot of ground called the Red Hill, within four miles of that city, pretty early in the month of Auguft. It was not, however, until the 21 of that month, that they were in fufficient ftrength to invest that fortrefs clofely. On that day the troops advanced fo near as to take poffeffion of the bound hedge (a planted fence which at fome diftance furrounded all the works) within cannon fhot of the fortifications, by which all communication with the country was entirely cut off. Some farther impediments, poffibly arifing from the climate, and from the difficulty of finding means for the conveyance of the artillery and ftores, ftill retarded the progrefs of the works, until the 6th and 7th of September, on which days the befiegers were enabled to break ground both on the north and the fouth fides of the town, under a determination of carrying on both attacks at the fame time.

tion; but were preparing during the night, for the service which they expected in the morning. The French had, however, so much the worst in this action," that they were in no difpofition at all for its renewal, and were accordingly, at day break totally out of fight. It appeared after, that they had got into Pondicherry that night to refit; whilft, from the contrary winds, and a northern current, Sir Edward was not able to recover his station until the 20th of the month, at midnight. In this time he had been joined by the Befborough Indiaman, which fupplied the place of the Valentine, then on her way to Europe. Early in the morning, a French veffel from Europe and the Mauritius, fell in among the Biitifh fhips, and was taken. At the fame time, they could perceive the French fquadron, under an eafy fail, standing out of Pondicherry road. An immediate engagement was now expected and prepared for, and nothing was left undone by the commodore, in order to clofe, as fpeedily as poffible, with the enemy; but the alternate failure, and contrary direction of the winds, rendered all his efforts ineffectual. As the French commander had, however, as great and interefting an object in view, in keeping the town free by fea, as Sir Edward could have in fhutting up the port, he made no doubt that the action would take place on the following morning as a matter of course, and on the fide of the enemy, in a great measure of neceffity.

He ac

Under this perfuafion, he stood in for Pondicherry road at the approach of night, where he caft anchor, expecting the enemy would have done the fame; more efpecially, as their motions during the day, had not indicated any design of avoiding an engagement. The French commander, however, feems to have confulted more the prefervation of his fhips, than that of the town. cordingly, taking advantage of the night, abandoned Pondicherry, and a garrifon which deferved better fortune, to their fate; and was fo expeditious in his means of efcape, that the French, fquadron were totally out of fight in the morning; nor were they at any time after feen or heard of on the coaft. In three days after, the Sartine frigate, which had loft company with the fquadron on the night of the action, being ignorant of the prefent change of circumftances, had advanced fo far in her way to get into Pondicherry, that whee

j. vel. Effent. Menth. pip. gut. xx.

an half of the decoction, warmed with any grateful compound water, every two or three hours; taking particular care to prevent any confiderable tendency to a diarrhoea, from the ufe of the medicine, Free, but not cold air, plenty of liquid nutriment, and generous, with conftant, attention to keep the patients clean, their mouths and throats often washed, and their linen often changed, contribute greatly to the cure of this difeafe. While their kin is covered with that deep efflorefcence, if they are at all fenfible, they often complain of the leaft admiffion of cold air, and very frequently of much fick nefs and oppreffion, if the efflorefcence difappears.

2

To favour the eruption, it will always be proper to put thofe who are feized with this diftemper to bed as ear ly after the feizure as poffible, and to give the mild and cordial diaphoreticks. And, as a prefervative, I have often recommended the bark to be given both in decoction and fubftance, with the addition of fuch a quantity of the volatile tincture of Guaiacum as may render it gently purgative."

The author will now take the liberty communicating the method that has been generally purfued by the practitioners in this place, and which, at prefent, he believes they find no occafion effentially to alter,

In many cafes, the disorder is fo mild as to require little more than keeping warm, at at bed time taking a draught of cyder or wine whey, a little fage being previously boiled in the milk; the mouth and throat may be washed with barley water, rofe leaves, and fage tea, with a little vinegar, and as much honey as will leave it agreeably acid.

In cafes where the attack is more febeginning with fickness and vomiting, it has been thought advifeable to encourage it by a few grains of ipecac. or camomile flowers tea. If, after the, operation of the medicine, the fymptoms do not abate, the following julep will, for the most part, effectually reftrain the, ftomach.

M. F. Julep.

If the oil of peppermint is used instead of the effence, it should be previously rubbed with a little fugar, and the water added by degrees. A fpoonful of this julep, more or lefs, according to the age and circumftances, of the patient, is directed to be taken every hour, until the ftomach is quieted. In cafes where there is no ficknefs, or difpofition to puking, an emetick has feldom been prefcribed, but rather have directed them to take a fpoonful of Mindererus's spirit, taking care the acid fhould predominate, rather than the falt in the preparation of the medicine, and this medicine is continued every four or fix hours, as occafion may require, through the difeafe.

But where the fymptoms are more urgent, the tendency to putrefaction great, the floughs large and thick, and the breath offenfive, recourfe must be had to more efficacious remedies; fix ounces of bark, four ounces of camomile flowers, and two ounces of Virginia fnake root, are directed to be boiled, or rather infuffed, for four hours, in ten quarts of wa ter, in a clofe veffel, and the patient to foak his feet and legs in this infufion, made a little more than lukewarn, one hour at least, morning and evening, and oftener if the fymptoms are alarmning. A decoction of bark, fnake, root, and camomile flowers, is likewife to be taken once in four or fix hours, and the bark freely in fubftance, if it can be got down. And here it may be obferved, that not an inftance has been feen, even where a moft phlogistick diathefis appeared to prevail, that the fymptoms were the leaft exaggerated from this treatment of the diforder, but on the contrary, the heat and reftleffnefs have abated, a gentle diaphorefis taken place, which is far from being natural, in this difeafe; the fkin, in general, being re- : markably dry.

In cafes where a delirium comes on in the evening, and the patient has been any time coftive, a milk clyfter is directed, taking care, if more than one or two ftools are procured (which will fometimes be the cafe) to restrain the bowels

with a proper dofe of the eleae fcordio, or paregorick elixir.

In the evening, when the acceffion has been very great, and the patient uncommonly restless, it has been found neceffary to give fome gentle fedative draught.

With regard to the throat, they are directed to receive the fteam of boiling vinegar, honey, and myrrh, into the mouth, through an inverted funnel, or the nose of a coffee pot; and where a gargarifm can be ufed, the following one has been found very efficacious in bringing off the floughs, and deterging the ulcers.

B. Aq. Fontan. 3vi. Mel. com. 3i. Tint. Myrrh 3B. Spt. Salis. Marini. q. f. M. F. Garg.

Here the quantity of fpirit of falt is not mentioned, as this must be regulated by the throat. If the floughs have feparated and come off, very little can be endured; otherwife, from ten to twenty drops may be found fufficient. The patient need not be anxioufly careful to avoid fwallowing any of this gargarifm, the myrrh as well as fpirit of falt are powerful antifepticks.

It is with great difficulty that children can be brought to manage either the fteam or gagarifms properly, and with infants impoffible; great attention however fhould be paid to the cleaning the nose, mouth, and throat, by washings, injections, and every method that can be devised.

It frequently happens that the parotid glands are much fwelled, painful, and hard; in fuch cafes, the following volatile liniment has been used with advantage.

R. Camphor 3ij. Ol. Amygd. d. vel Olivar. 3ij. Spt. Sal. Ammoniack 3ij. mifce.

A fmall quantity of this may be rubbed into the part, afterwards a fermenting cataplafm of milk, beer grounds, or yeaft, with oatmeal, may be applied.

As to blifters, a promifcuous ufe of them is far from being thought adviseable; in fome languid cafes they may be ferviceable; yet, the inflammation, painful floughs, deep ulcerations, and even mortifications, which have taken place, feem to be more than a counter balance for all their good effects. But it is impoffible to overcome the prejudices of fome, and we often find blifters applied without confulting the phyfician. In fuch cafes, and when any of the above difagreeable appearances take place, the before mentioned cataplafm, with the

addition of fome onions, diced fmall, and previously boiled in the milk, will be found one of the easiest and belt applica

tions.

The author, in September, 1785, attended the wife of Mr. B-j-1 R-g-rs, of York. She had the dif order feverely indeed. The whole of the tonfils were mortified; a blister had been drawn on one arm and leg. Thefe limbs were fwelled to an aftonishing de gree. No defcription can give an idea of the pain the fuffered in them. The parts where blitters had been laid were alfo mortified; yet, with a conftant use of the pediluvium with bark, camomile flowers, and fnake root, the red bark taken freely in fubftance, and the fre quent ufe of the gargarism before mentioned, the recovered. There was fo great a lofs of fubftance in the throat, that the could fcarcely utter a word in. telligibly; and, for many months, whatever the attempted to fwallow, returned as freely by the nofe. The mortified blifters feparated and came out, leaving the bones nearly bare, and it was fome months before they were fully incarned and healed, and nature has, in a furprizing and unexpected manner, overcome the difficulty in her throat.

In cafes where blifters are thought ne ceffary, it has been found much better to apply them to the neck than on the limbs.

In fomne cafes, the putrid fotor from the breath is not only intolerably offen five to the attendants, but to the patients themselves. The fixed air, emitted from the effervefence of chalk, and sharp vin egar, mixed in pretty large quantities, in a bowl, and placed near the patient's mouth, will be found very advantageous.

Faintnefs is frequently a fymptom in this diforder. Genuine Madeira wine will be found the best antiseptick cordial that can be taken.

If, after the diforder is gone off, fwelling and hardness of the parotid glands remain, keeping the part warm, frictions with foft flannel, and in obfi nate cafes a small quantity of mercurial ointment rubbed into the part, and a dofe or two of calonel with rhubarb will remove the complaint.

It has happened with fome patients, efpecially thofe more advanced in life, that, on the decline of this diforder, they have been attacked with violent painsof the limbs, not unlike thofe of the rheu matifin; and in fome few inftances, they have fo far loft the pic of them, as to be

unable to ftand on their feet, or make ufe of their hands. In thefe cafes, the volatile tincture of gum guaicum, the fhavings of the guaicom, or the fawduft of the lignumvitæ, which is more readily obtained, has speedily put an end to thofe complaints. The cough and edematous fwelling of limbs, which fometimes remain after the disease, are beft removed by a continuance of the bark.

It may be objected by Lome, that few remedies are propofed. It was not the author's intention to prefcribe for every fymptom which might arife in this diforder; his endeavour was to point out the real nature and tendency of a disease which has become fo general, under fo many names and titles; as alfo to adopt fame rational method of cure, instead of

the numberlefs remedies conftantly recommended. Indeed, in all cafes, more efpecially in one where fo little can be fwallowed, a few well chofen, powerful remedies are to be preferred to a farrago of infignificant stuff, which can serve only to teafe the patient, and obftinately determine him against every remedy, however important and neceffary.

The author is fufficiently fenfible he has trefpaffed too much on the publick's patience in taking up so much of the paper with a fubject altogether profeffional; he will therefore conclude with the tranflation of a fentence often prefixed as a motto to performances of this kind :— If any one know any thing better, let him as candidly impart it, if not, ufe this with me. HUMANUS.

cient quantity of water, that the twigs of

means to prevent the Fly from injuring his Wheat, I requested my relation, Mr. Decius Wadsworth, to wait on Mr. Cowles and examine his Wheat Fields, and obtain all the information poffible and give me a minute account. I herewith fend you his letter, which you are requested to publish-Mr. Wadfworth vifited the fields on the 2d inftant-as it is poffible Mr. Cowles' wheat may yet be injured by the Fly before harvest, I shall take care to have a further examination of it, which shall be communicated. JERE. WADSWORTH.

SIR,

Hartford, July 4, 1787.

FROM a late experiment, it should feem that a method is difcovered of effectually preventing the ravages of the Heffian Fly; the enclosed facts which were collected from the mouth of the gentleman to whom we are indebted for the experiment, will enable you to judge what advantage may be expected from his method of procedure.

Mr. James Cowles of Farmington, fowed three fmall aljacant patches of land, about the 20th of September laft, with wheat, having prepared the feed in the following manner :

He took an indifferently large quantity of the young twigs of elder, of that fummer's growth, together with the leaves, and poured upon them a fuffi

fuffered it to continue in an open veffel expofed to the fun and air for the space of twenty four hours, he bruised and wrung the twigs of elder until they had tranfmitted all their virtues to the wa

ter. In this preparation he steeped the feed for twelve hours, and fowed it in the common manner. It happened that the quantity of feed which was steeped was not fufficient; on the remaining part of the land, he took about a peck of feed of the fame quality, but it had only a fhort fleeping of three quarters of an hour. I have examined each piece of the land, and the small spot where this was fown is the only part of either patch which is effentially injured. One fees here and there a ftalk eaten off by the infect, but I think not fo frequently as in the Rye which I have obferved this year. The fmall patch where the peck of wheat flightly fteeped was fown, is diftinguished from the rest of the field at the distance of forty rods. In almost every tuft or root of this, which I examined, I found from one to a dozen of the infects in the worm ftate. In either of the other parts I found none of the infects, though I occafionally faw the ef fects by the dead ears of corn.. In general it looks very promifing, and if unhurt by a blast, may produce from 20 to 25 bushels per acre.

In an adjacant field a farmer had fown a final trip of land which had