In 1899, the British Medical Journal (page 933) reported the results of a medical procedure involving the subcutaneous infusion of a salt solution for the treatment of extremely severe pneumonia: “Dr. Clement Penrose has tried the effect of subcutaneous salt infusions as a last extremity in severe cases of pneumonia. He continues this treatment with inhalations of oxygen. He has had experience of three cases, all considered hopeless, and succeeded in saving one. In the other two the prolongation of life and the relief of symptoms were so marked that Dr. Penrose regretted that the treatment had not been employed earlier.”

a. Is this an experimental study? Why or why not?

b. What design components might Dr. Penrose have included in an experiment to test the effectiveness of his treatment?