In one case, where the heart had been punctured, he afterwards discovered an extravasation of blood into the Pericardium; and Dr. Haime asserts, that his experiments prove the doctrine of Mons. Beclard, respecting the elasticity of the arterial tunics, which may be punctured with impunity. One case of this nature occurred to Dr. Bretonneau, where a jet of blood followed the puncture of an artery. The hœmorrhage was immediately stopped, simply by pressure upon the opening. Dr. Haime says, that he has often, when performing this operation upon the human subject, thrust the needle to such a depth into the Epigastrium, that the stomach must have been pierced; but that it was productive of no more inconvenience than the same operation upon the more simple parts of the body. I should, however, contrary to such high testimony, hesitate much to puncture an artery, as an aneurism has been known to result from a small puncture made by an awl, which required the division of the vessel for the cure. I shall here close my subject, not without exciting, perhaps, in the minds of some of my readers, surprise that I have not attempted an hypothesis of the operation. I have by no means made up my mind as to the nature of its action, and rather than venture into speculative reasoning, which may be received as doubtful by some, and visionary by others, I prefer preserving a profound silence. The authors whom I have before referred to, have attempted such an explanation; and should opinions of this kind be considered as deserving attention, the enquirers may find them in the paper upon acupuncturation, in the 13th volume of the “Journal Universel Des Sciences Medicales,” published at Paris in 1819. The needles may be obtained at Mr. Blackwell’s Bedford-Court, and Mr. Laundy’s, St. Thomas’s Street, Borough. FOOTNOTES: [1] “Mémoire sur les Maladies Chroniques, les evacuationes sanguines et l’acupuncture; pur L. V. J. Berlioz, D.M. Paris, 1816.” [2] Dr. Haime, whose practice will be presently noticed, observes, “Lorsque l’aiguille a été introduite avec les précautions requises, il n’y a pas émission de la plus petite gouttelette de sang. A ce sujet, le docteur Fréteau est du mème avis que M. Berlioz, puis qu’il dit, dans son Traité des emissions sanguines, que l’acupuncture doit être rayée de la liste des agens propres à provoquer ces evacuations.” [3] Notice sur l’Acupuncture et observations médicales sur ses effets thérapeuticques. [4] Une Aiguille d’Acier, conique, aigue, longue d’environ trois pouces, et garnie de cire d’Espagne vers son œil, pour tenir lieu de téte. [5] “Ou” says Dr. Haime “la malade contracta l’habitude de l’onanisme et s’y livra sans réserve.” [6] See the 66th volume of the “Journal Général de Médicine.” [7] By a needle of an inch and a half in length.