In my own practice, I have derived the utmost advantage from the use of the stethoscope in cases of pneumonia, with regard to local treatment. When we find a patient ill with severe symptoms arising from inflammation of the lungs, we do not require the aid of auscultation to determine us in employing the lancet as our first and most important remedy; but we may desire immediately to join with the general bleeding, local depletion; and, most commonly, the period arrives when we wish to use local treatment exclusively, by cupping or leeches, and blisters. Under such circumstances, it is of the utmost importance that we should be able to ascertain the exact seat of the inflammation; and when, as commonly happens in pneumonia, the patient cannot direct us by any sensation of pain, but is labouring under a general sense of oppression and suffocation; we resort to the stethoscope as a positive and most valuable source of instruction. Even when it is manifested to us by ordinary indications, that the inflammatory action is prevailing on one side of the chest, it is of great advantage that we can detect, by means of the instrument, the particular part of the lungs most affected. I shall illustrate the truth of these remarks by the recital of a few cases. A gentleman dangerously ill with inflammation of the lungs, which had supervened on an attack of asthma, experienced, in the evening, a renewal of the feelings of suffocation, which, in the morning had been relieved by copious bleeding from the arm. In the middle of the upper part of the chest, he had a severe sensation of tightness, but was not conscious that the lungs were affected more on one side than the other. His cough was most urgent. The stethoscope, applied to the lower part of the right side, conveyed to the ear a strong sonorous rattle, both on inspiration and expiration, much resembling the sounds of loud snoring. These sounds could not be detected in any other part of the chest. In addition, therefore, to a fresh bleeding from the arm, cupping was used very freely at this part, and with evident good effect. Almost immediately the sounds abated. Two days after, leeches and a large blister were used with further benefit; and the actual relief of the patient perfectly corresponded with the improving indications afforded by the stethoscope. Occasional bleedings from the arm were afterwards required; but the inflammation was finally subdued, and the constitution was restored to its previous state; this gentleman being habitually subject to spasmodic asthma.