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Show 218 sors. Temperature Of Dr. de Hahn of Bresla'u, they make particular mention; and Dr. Currie was able at length to procure his dissertation from the appendix to the Act. not. Curios. x. But the most interesting documents escaped his diligence. J. G. de Hahn indeed wrote only that paper upon the subject. But J. Sigmund Hahn published at Breslau, in 1743, Instruc- tions concerning the power and use of cold water. The latter communicated also his papers to the upright and intelligent Mr. Theden, third Prussian surgeon general, of whose new observations in surgery the first edition was published at Berlin in 1771, and the last in 1782. These documents prove that in applying cold water a rule was steadily held in view, though a rule very different from that ofDr. Currie. Dr. J. S. Hahn, who daily took the cold bath himself when near 80, successfully treated many maniacs by throwing them into cold water and keeping a cap ofice upon the head, after bleeding and vomiting. To this treatI think too ment only opium was added. that various striking cures, recorded by Prussian observers, may be traced to De Hahn: though the tracts of Schwertner and Bergins were popular also. " In malignant fever, "says Tnedeu, (l. c. 1. p. 134) " when the pulse was sinking, and death, so to speak, sate upon the (3f the body. . (319 the tongue, Ihave applied compresses wetted with cold water upon the abdomen and scrotum, washed the breast, arms, feet, and face with it, dried the parts and covered the patient well. Warm liquids, a glass of wine from time to time, and a cordial draught with volatile alkali were then administered. A full pulse succeeded, afterwards sweat and the patient was recruited. In this way I have saved numbers." He says that many, who in such (leSperate circumstances employed the means, all but the cold application, died, whereas most of those recovered, who used that also. On applying the cold compress to the scrotum and abdomen, the patient, according to Mr. Theden, shrinks, shudders, and Now becomes, as it were, re-animated. cordials have effect, and blisters, before inactive, draw. The treatment was useful in the small-pox, in incarcerated hernia and many other emergencies. " To avoid malicious rumours," says Theden, " I have not hazarded this proceeding so boldly and so generally as Hahn did. But in cases where every one ed was at a loss for a resource, Ihave ventur success. upon it-and sometimes without t despe- But it has rescued many from the mos patients, rate situation." Of two West-India mentioned apparently at the last gasp, one is by nearly the in Dr. Currie (II. 2.13) as saved Silesian mm M |