[ 38S ] 



It is an opinion generally received, that if bleed- 

 ing be omitted at the beginning of fevers, it is im- 

 proper in their advanced flate, and this is in fome 

 meafure true. Fevers that commenced with in- 

 flammatory fymptoms often become putrid as they 

 proceed, and bleeding is certainly improper in fuch 

 circumftances. But I would obferve, that this cau- 

 tion holds more ftrongly with regard to the enfee- 

 bled inhabitants of towns, than for robuft country 

 men. I apprehend that bleeding, though certainly 

 more likely to be of fervice if tried at the beginning 

 Qf the difeafe, is neverthelefs proper at every period 

 when inflammatory fymptoms are prefent. This 

 holds more ftrongly in cafes of fever attended with 

 local inflammation, as in pleurify, inflammations of 

 the vifccra, &c. in which the propriety of bleeding 

 at every ftage, provided the fymptoms are urgent, is 

 univerfally acknowledged. It fometimes happens in 

 robuft people, that the common inflammatory fever 

 preferves its original appearance nearly as long as 

 life continues, and its change of type is not to be re- 

 garded fo much as an indication that points out the 

 propriety of a different method of treatment, as a 

 fign that all our attempts are likely to be in vain. 



Topical bleeding is often of great fervice in many 

 diforders as well as general bleeding, efpecially in 

 the removal of fome troublefome and diftrefllng 



fymptoms. 



