AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. 145 
Or a COMMON COUGH. 
A COUGH is generally the effect of a cold, which has either been improperly 
treated, or entirely neglected. When it proves obftinate, there is always reafon to 
fear the confequences, as this fhewsa weak ftate of thelungs, and is often the 
forerunnner of a confumption. If the cough be violent, and the patient young and 
ftrong, with a hard quick pulfe, bleeding will be proper ; but, in weak and relaxed 
habits, bleeding rather prolongs the difeafe. When the patient {pits freely, bleed- 
ing is unneceflary, and fometimes hurtful, as it tends to leffen that difcharge, 
When acough is occafioned by acrid humours tickling the throat and fauces, the 
) patient fhould keep fome foft pectoral lozenges almoft conftantly in his mouth ; as 
the Pontefract liquorice cakes, barley-fugar, the common balfamic lozenges, Spa- 
nith juice, 8cc. Thefe blunt the acrimony of the humours, and, by taking off 
- their ftimulating quality, help to appeafe the cough. In obftinate coughs, proceed- 
ing from a flux of humours upon the lungs, it will often be neceffary, befides ex- 
pectorating medicines, to have recourfe,to iffues, fetons, or fome other drain. In 
this cafe I have often obferved the moft happy effects from a Burgundy-pitch | 
platter applied between the fhoulders. About the bulk of anutmeg of Burgundy- 
pitch may befpread thin upon a piece of foft leather, about the fize of the hand, 
and laid between the fhoulder-blades. It may be taken off and wiped every three 
or four days; and ought to be renewed once a fortnight or three weeks. This is, 
indeed, a cheap and fimple medicine, and confequently apt to be defpifed ; but we 
will venture to affirm, that the whole materia medica does not afford an application 
more efficacious in almoft every kind of cough. It has not, indeed, always an im- 
mediate effect ; but, if kept on for fome time, it will fucceed where moft other 
medicines fail. But coughs proceed from many other caufes befides defluxions 
upon the Jungs. ‘In thefe cafes the cure is no& to be attempted by pectoral medi- 
cines. Thus, in a cough proceeding from a foulnefs and debility of the ftomach, 
fyrups, oils, mucilages, and all kinds of balfamic medicines, do hurt. The ftomach 
cough may be known from one that is owing to a fault in the Tangs by this, that 
in the latter the patient coughs — he infpires, or draws in his breath fully; 
ut in the former that does not happen. pres 
a he a cure of this cough depends chiefly upon cleanfing and ftrength- 
1 fe gentle vomits and bitter purgatives are moft 
ening the ftomach ; for which purpo sare | pote wt > aaa 
proper. Thus, after avomit or two, the fated tingkure, 36 fs called, may be 
taken for aconfiderable time in the dofe of one or two table-fpoonfuls twice a-day, 
or as often as itis found neceffary, to Keep the body gently open. People may 
‘make this tin@ture themfelves, by infufing an ounce of hiera picra in “s _~ 
lih int of white-wine, letting it ftand a few days, and then ftraining it. In 
a F py coughs 
35- 
