Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 4.djvu/306

 204 medical gentlemen in the mining district, as a very common complaint among miners. Here, as in other instances, I have to lament the want of a more discriminating diagnosis, and still more of cadaveric confirmation.

Diseases of the Chest.—I have already noticed the principal diseases of this class under the heads of catarrh, inflammation of the lungs, and phthisis pulmonalis. The only remaining affections of this cavity, that remain to be noticed are chronic bronchitis and asthma. And as these possess no peculiar interest, except as they occur among miners, I shall refer my notice of them to the section which is more particularly devoted to the diseases of this class of persons.

Chronic diseases of the Alimentary Canal.—I have already noticed most of the diseases of the intestinal tube, and the collatitious viscera, which seemed likely to be the result of endemic, epidemic, or atmospheric influence. I now proceed to make a few remarks on such as remain, and which, if attributable to any appreciable cause, must be regarded as more owing to circumstances in the constitution and mode of living of the individuals, than to any peculiarities of soil or climate.

Dysphagia.—The number of cases of this disease, entered upon the Dispensary lists, is, I apprehend, above the ordinary proportion; and I certainly was myself struck with the frequency of the complaint during my residence at Penzance. The same remark was made by one of my successors in the Dispensary. In the Report for 1832, Dr. Montgomery observes—"A few examples of obstruction of