(see Medicine, no 318, &c. Encycl.), is so formidable a disease, though not very frequent, that it would be unpardonable in us not to mention every method of treating it successfully which has come to our knowledge. Since our article Medicine was published, Dr Rollo, surgeon general to the royal artillery, has suggested a method of treating this disease, which in various instances has been crowned with success.

The Doctor supposes, that in this complaint the vege- table matter taken into the stomach has not, from some defect in this organ, undergone a sufficient change to form proper chyle; that in consequence of this, much saccharine matter is evolved, which, when carried into the circulation, proves a general stimulus, producing head-aches and quickness of pulse, but that it acts more remarkably on the kidneys, occasioning a constant and copious secretion of sweet urine. From this hypoth- esis, he was naturally led to adopt a plan of cure, which has proved completely successful. The indications he lays down are: 1. To prevent the formation of saccha- rine matter in the stomach; and, 2. To remove the morbidly increased action of this organ, and restore it to a healthy condition. These indications are to be answered by a complete diet of animal food, and by the use of such medicines as shall diminish the action of the stomach, DID

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DID

I word, flomach, and at the same time counteract the formation of faecharine matter. The remedies employed for this purpose have been emetics, kali sulphuratum, lime-water, hepatised ammonia, and vegetable narcotics. But the principal dependence is to be placed on a total abstinence from all vegetable matter, which alone can supply the faecharine principle. By a regular perseverance in this plan, the first of two patients was completely cured in four weeks, although the disease had been of seven months continuance. The urine, which at the commencement of the treatment was sweet, and amounted to 24 pints daily, was at last reduced to 1½ pint, being at the same time free from any faecharine impregnation. The second patient, from his age and other circumstances, although relieved from the diabetic affection, did not regain his wonted state of health; but even in this case, the effects produced by the treatment, when properly attended to, were most decidedly in confirmation of this plan of cure.

The Doctor has received several communications in consequence of the dispersion of the printed notes on the first case. The most important are the result of two cases treated in this way by Dr Cleghorn of Glasgow, and one by Dr Currie and Gerard at Liverpool; all of which afford the strongest corroboration of the efficacy of this mode of treatment.