AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. 125 
{quills, 8c. When an inflammation of the breaft does not yield to bleeding, blif- 
tering, and other evacuations, it commonly ends in a fuppuration, which is more or 
lefs dangerous according to the part where it is fituated. ‘When this happens in the 
pleura, it fometimes breaks outwardly, and the matter is difcharged from the 
wound. If thefuppuration happens within the fubftance or body of the lungs, the 
matter may be difcharged by expectoration ; but, if the matter floats in the cavity 
of the breaft, between the pleura and the lungs, it can only be difcharged by an in- 
cifion made betwixt the ribs. \ If the patient’s ftrength does not return after the in- 
flammation is to all appearance removed; if his pulfe continues quick though foft, 
his breathing difficult and oppreffed; if he has cold fhiverings at times, his cheeks 
fluthed, his lips dry; and if he complains of thirft, and want of appetite ; there is 
reafon to fear a fappuration, and that a confumption of the lungs will enfue; the 
proper treatment of which we thall next confider. 
Or CONSUMPTIONS. 
CONSUMPTIONS prevail more in England than in any other part of the 
world; owing perhaps to the great ufe of animal food and malt-liquors, the general 
application to fedentary employments, and the great quantity of pit-coal which is 
burnt; to which we may add the perpetual changes in the atmofphere, or variable- 
nefs of the weather. As this difeafe fo frequently proves fatal, we fhall point out 
its caufes, in order that people may as much as poffible endeavour to guard againtt 
it: thefe are, confined or unwholefome air; violent paffions, exertions, or affec- 
tions of the mind; grief, difappointment, anxiety, or clofe application to ftudy :--- 
- Great evacuations ; as fweating, diarrhoeas, diabetes, exceflive venery, the fluor al- 
bus, an over difcharge of the menftrual flux, giving fuck too long :---alfo the fud- 
den ftoppage of cuftomary evacuations ; as the bleeding piles, fweating of the feet, 
- pleeding at the nofe, the menfes, iffues, ulcers, or eruptions of any kind, Con- 
- famptions are likewife caught by fleeping with the difeafed’; for ‘which reafon this 
fhould be carefully avoided ; but more confumptive patients date the beginning of 
their diforders from wet feet;damp beds, night air, wet clothes, or catching cold 
after the body has been heated, than from all other caufes put together. This dif- 
eafe however is fometimes owing to an hereditary taint, or a fcrophulous habit; in 
. which cafe it is generally incurable---yet, let none defpair, ~~ 1 aa : 
-CURE.---On the firft appearance of a confamption, if the patient lives: in any 
“place where the air is confined, he ought immediately to quit it, and to make choice 
ofa fituation inthe country, where the iris pure and free. Here he muft not 
‘yemain inactive, but take every day as much exercife as he can bear. Itisa pity 
thof who-attend the fick eldom recommend riding in this difeafe, till the patient 
agg Kk i 
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