Researches to establish the truth of the Linnaean doctrine of animate contagions : wherein the origina, causes, mode of diffusion, and cure, of epidemic diseases, spasmodic cholera, dysentery, plague, small pox, hooping cough, leprosy ... are illsutrated by facts from the natural history of mankind, of animals, and of vegetables, and from the phenomena of the atmosphere / by Adam Neale.

  • Neale, Adam, -1832.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches to establish the truth of the Linnaean doctrine of animate contagions : wherein the origina, causes, mode of diffusion, and cure, of epidemic diseases, spasmodic cholera, dysentery, plague, small pox, hooping cough, leprosy ... are illsutrated by facts from the natural history of mankind, of animals, and of vegetables, and from the phenomena of the atmosphere / by Adam Neale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    having quitted their retreats, they emerged to the surface and floated and remained there till the hour of ten in the morning, feeding themselves; when they dived and re-entered the chinks they had quitted. This fact he discovered after repeated ob- servations. Having taken out these acari and placed them upon a moistened watch-glass, they were found to be but little irritated by the adfusion of various liquors, and that even after the application of oil itself they remained unhurt: but they were particu- larly annoyed by the application of spirits of wine (alcohol) and most especially by the spirituous tinc- ture of rhubarb. A fact especially worthy of notice, seeing that rhubarb is actually a specific for Dysen- tery, and that the Lapathum Acutum or sharp point- ed dock, which is a plant very nearly related to it, is a common remedy for the itch, and is demonstra- tive both of the affinity and analogy of the two diseases, and their remedies. These acari adhered firmly to the wooden cup after three ablutions in hot water. Rolander also searched for them in other situations, and found them most frequently in vessels containing acid beverages and also beneath the bungs of casks. That Dysentery, which infects the territo- ry of Sweden almost every year, during the harvest time, as well as that which is common in camps, most probably derives its origin from the self same acari lurking in acidulous beverages, and which, by means of the necessaries, are propagated, and thus give rise to what is called contagion. In the Old Testament therefore it was enjoined that every sol-