It must be admitted that the symptoms produced by violent irritation in the primæ viæ, are not characterised by a diversity, corresponding with that of the causes which may excite it; thus it is, that we have a disease to which the term “_cholera_” has been assigned, and which is indicated by the following symptoms, “_Humoris biliosi vomitus, ejusdem simul dejectio frequens; anxietas; tormina; surarum spasmata_,” (Cullen Syn: LX. 1.) symptoms which supervene, and with nearly the same force, the spontaneous effusion of acrid bile into the intestines, and the ingestion of some acrid poison; and hence the nosologist has very properly divided _cholera_ into two species, viz. C. _Spontanea_, “Tempestate calida, sine causa manifesta oboriens.” C. _Accidentalis_, “A rebus acribus ingestis.” The problem therefore for solution, is the mode of distinguishing the two species from each other. Although the leading characters are, as we have said, the same in both, such as bilious vomiting, and purging, violent tormina of the bowels, cold sweats, cramps, faintings, and death, yet by a careful and circumstantial examination of the case, the intelligent practitioner will generally be enabled to arrive at a probable conjecture; the season of the year[155], the prevailing epidemics, the age[156] and constitutional predisposition of the patient, his habit with respect to diet, are circumstances which will greatly assist the diagnosis. The progress of cholera morbus is also rarely, or never, fatal in this climate, especially in so short a period as that in which death occurs from the operation of a violent, corrosive poison.[157] There are besides in this latter case, very frequently other symptoms which do not attend _cholera spontanea_,[158] such as sanguineous vomiting, extreme burnings in the æsophagus and region of the stomach, swollen countenance, great dryness and tumefaction of the fauces, peculiar fætor of the breath, ischuria, with discharges of bloody urine, and ulcerations about the fundament[159]; this latter symptom was particularly remarkable in the case of _Mr. Blandy_, whose history, as related by his physician, _Dr. Addington_, will be found in our _Appendix_, _p._ 236, and well deserves the attentive consideration of the medical jurist. The matter voided will also sometimes lead to a just diagnosis; in the true cholera _spontanea_ there is a discharge of almost pure bile by vomiting and stool, simultaneously or alternately; now, although the same vomiting and purging may arise from the action of a poison, yet it does not follow that the matter discharged is bilious. The evidence delivered on the extraordinary trial of _Donnall_, for the wilful murder of his mother-in-law, _Mrs. Elizabeth Downing_, has been also printed in the _Appendix_, as well illustrating those doubts with which the present question is naturally encompassed. An opinion has existed that the appearance of jaundice during, or after the severe