178 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. enjoyed a more friendly or universal reception than the Observations on the Diseases of the Anny : in alluding to it Haller designates the author as " Vir illustris, — de omnibus bonis artibus bene nieritus." From the time that Pringie had been appointed physician to the army, it seems to have been his favourite object to soften, as far as was m his power, the sufferings attendant on warfare, — and his benevolent efforts were not fruitless. Among the important points which he illustrates, are, the force which may at any time be rehed upon for service; the effects of long or short campaigns upon the health of soldiers ; the differ- ence between taking the field early, and going late into winter-quarters; and other calculations founded on the materials which warfare too liberally sup- phes. He has proved the indispensable necessity of a free circulation of atmospheric air in hospi- tals, from observing, amongst other facts, that the sick who were placed in hospitals having defective doors and windov/s were more speedily restored to health, and were less subject to relapses. Desge- nettes observes, that he has often verified this assertion in the French mihtary hospitals, and that he has frequently had occasion to break the windows of hospitals, v/hen the indilFerence or prejudices of the attendants precluded other means of a regular ventilation. General Melville, when governor of the Neutral Islands, was enabled to be singularly useful, in consequence of the instruc- tions which he had received from the writings and conversation of Pringie. By taking care to have his men always lodged in large, open, and airy apartments ; and by rapidly shifting their quarters
