Class II. 1.3. 2. OF SENSATION, 191 



quence of the previous torpor of the interior membranes. As 

 this generally attends old age, it becomes more dangerous in 

 proportion to the age, and alio to the habitual intemperance of 

 the patient in refpect to the ufe of fermented or fpirituous liquor. 



When the former kind, or irritated eryfipelas, continues long, 

 the patient becomes fo weakened as to be liable to all the fymp- 

 toms of this inirritated eryfipelas ; efpecially where the menin- 

 ges of the brain are primarily arretted. As in that cafe, after 

 two or three efforts have been made to remove the returning 

 periods of torpor of the meninges to the external fkin, thofe 

 meninges become inflamed themfelves, and the patient finks un- 

 der the difeafe ; in a manner limilar to that in old gouty patients, 

 where the torpor of the liver or flomach is relieved by affocia- 

 tion of the inflammation of the membranes of the feet, and then 

 of other joints, and laftly the power of afTociation ceafing to act, 

 but the excefs of fenfation continuing, the liver or ftamach re- 

 mains torpid, or becomes itfelf inflamed, and the patient is de- 

 ft royed. 



M. M. Where there exifts a beginning gangrene of the ex- 

 tremities, the Peruvian bark, and wine, and opium, are to b : 

 given in large quantities ; fo as to ftrengthen the patient, bur 

 not to intoxicate, or to impede his digeftion of aliment, 2; 

 tioned in the firft fpecies of this genus. Clafs II. 1. 2. 1. But 

 where the brain is inflamed or opprefTed, which is known 

 by delirium, with quick pulfe ; or by ftupor, and How refpira- 

 tion with flow pulfe ; other means mud be applied. Such as, 

 firft, a fomentation on the head with warm water, with or with- 

 out aromatic herbs, or fait in it, mould be continued for an hour 

 or two at a time, and frequently repeated. A blifter may alfo 

 be applied on the head, and the fomentation neverthelefs occa- 

 fionally repeated. Internally very gentle ftimulants, as camphor 

 one grain or two in infufion of valerian. Wine and water, or 

 fmall beer, weak broth. An enema. Six grains of rhubarb and 

 one of calomel. Afterwards five drops of tincture of opium, 

 which may be repeated every fix hours, if it feems of fervice. 

 Might the head be bathed for a minute with coid water ? or 

 with ether ? or vinegar ? 



Eryfipelas fenfitivam is a third fpecies, differing only in the kind 

 of fever which attends it, which is fimply inflammatory, or fen- 

 fitive, without either excefs of irritation, as in the firft variety % 

 or the defect of irritation, as in the fecond variety : all thefe 

 kinds of eryfipelas are liable to return by periods in fome people, 

 who have parted the middle of life, as at periods of a lunation, 

 or two lunations, or at the equinoxes. When thefe periods of 

 eryfipelas happen to women, they feem to fupply the place of 



the 



