Remarks by Joseph Lovell, Surgeon General U. S. A.

The mean temperature for April is 61.31; for May 66.07; for June 74.61; and for the quarter 67.31. In April, the prevailing winds were S.E., S. and S. W.; in May, S.E., N.W. and S.W.; in June, S.E., S. and S.W.; and for the quarter, S.E. S.W. and S., with but little variation. Out of 17 places of observation, in April, the prevailing weather was fair on the whole; and out of 18 places in May and June, the prevailing weather was fair at 15 in the former, and 16 in the latter month. In April, the proportion was about 18 fair, 7 cloudy, 4 rain and snow; in May, 163 fair, 7 cloudy, 7 rain; in June, 17, fair, 6 cloudy, 6 rain; and for the quarter 523 fair, 20 cloudy, 17 rain, and a fraction snow.

In

It appears that the temperature at the eastern posts increases gradually and regularly through the quarter; and generally in direct proportion to their latitudes: but we find the increase greater and much more rapid at the western posts, whether compared with those north or south of them, or with those in the same latitude. Thus, the mean temperature at St. Peter's at 2 P. M. is twelve degrees above that at Sackett's Harbour, and eight degrees above that at Plattsburgh; the first being but 46 minutes further south, and the latter but 41 minutes further north. January the mean temperature at the same time was 19° below that at Sackett's Harbour, in February, but 5o in March the same, in April 10°, in May 13°, and in June 11° higher. Again: at Prairie du Chien, which is but a few miles north, and 20° west of Boston, the mean temperature at 2 P. M. is 81° higher-in April it is 3o above that at Fort Washington on the Potomac, in May equal to that at Fort Johnston, North Carolina, and in June equal to that at New-Orleans, which is 12° 41' further south: whereas, in Boston, it was in April 9° below that at Fort Washington, in May 7° below that at Fort Johnston, N. Carolina, and in June, 71o below that at New-Orleans.

2

The proportion of fair weather is very nearly the same as during the first quarter; and it appears to be pretty equally distributed through the country. The greatest number of fair days (70) was at Plattsburgh, in the State of New-York, and Fernandina, on Amelia Island; the smallest number was 34, at the cantonment on the Sabine river, about 400 miles N.W. from New-Orleans; and 38 at Fort Gadsden, in Florida, near the mouth of the Appalachicola river.

The snow, in April, extended from Sackett's Harbour in latitude 43° 55' to Fort Washington, in latitude 38° 52′ and from Boston, in longitude 71° 04' to Council Bluff's in longitude 96° 42'. The extent of country shows the agency of general causes, but at the time at which it fell at the several places shows these to have been in some measure modified by local circumstances; for it fell on the 1st at Council Bluffs, and the 6th at Prairie du Chiens; on the 2d at Pittsburgh, Frankford, and Fort Washington; on the 5th and 7th at Sackett's Harbour, and on the 7th at Boston. The two days of snow at St. Peter's, in May, were on the 6th and 7th.

During the first quarter, it appeared the prevailing winds were from the N.W. with a greater proportion from the south, as the season advanced. During this quarter, they were pretty steadily from the S.E., S. and S.W. It will also be observed that northerly winds have occurred much more frequently at the eastern than at the western posts.

Observations on the Medical Use of Spirit of Turpentine, by Dr. Samuel Osborn.

THE present age, perhaps more than any other, has been characterized by the successful diligence and zeal which it has displayed in researches. The efforts made in the various arts and sciences, have been often rewarded by important discoveries; and none of the branches of knowledge can boast of more useful improvements, than those which have been connected with medical inquiries. While the truth of this position must be generally acknowledged, it will also be allowed that the ardour of pursuit after novelties, especially in the healing art, has been almost every where so exclusively directed to recent or modern innovations in practical as well as theoretical principles, that much very important, though ancient medical skill communicated by the writings of an early age, has been disregarded, or ignorantly confounded with pretended new discoveries; the new medical author or practitioner, claiming the merit and honour of first introducing as a beneficial novelty, some plan or method of treatment well known to his predecessors, and recorded in works yet extant, and of easy attainment. Though much has been written, and sometimes VOL. 6. 50

in a spirit of severe invective or wanton ridicule, with the intention of bringing into contempt very many of the old and well proved medicines of former schools of practice, yet all efforts have fortunately, proved vain, to banish from the materia medica such as have heretofore been distinguished for their efficacy, and whose useful qualities have been tested and established by long experience. The apothecary's shop still abounds with numerous and valuable compounds, and this abundance of various preparations is not to be regretted; inasmuch as, although the chief active ingredient may be the same in many, the judicious practitioner is thereby enabled to make a selection, and to appropriate a particular composition adapted, not only to the disease which is the present subject of his treatment, but also to the peculiar habits, prejudices, and idiosyncrasies of his patient. It will be confessed by those who have been long acquainted with the medical world, that most practical physicians, so far from having diminished the number of the remedies which they were wont to use in early practice, have, on the contrary, multiplied them according as they have advanced in age, and added to their stock of observation and experience. It follows, that the old experienced physician, though he be not possessed of more, or even as much medical science, (especially of that sort derived from the more modern and contemporary publications,) as may be possessed by the younger practitioner, should be listened to with more care, and greater deference in consultation, than are usually exhibited by his youthful and inexperienced associate. In such a case, the long experience of the aged practitioner may qualify him to suggest indications of cure, and the choice of remedies unknown to the younger companion of his consultation. It is certain that many important articles of the materia medica, apparently of opposite tendency to one another, are judiciously used in morbid affections. To account