8 CULPEPER’s ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, 
Or INVOLUNTARY DISCHARGES or BLOOD, | 
INVOLUNTARY difcharges of blood are fo far from being always dangerous, 
that they prove often falutary. When fuch difcharges are critical, which is fre-, 
quently the cafe in fevers, they ought not tobe ftopped. Nor indeed is it proper at 
any time to ftop them, unlefs they be fo greatas to endanger the patient’s life. 
Mott people, afraid of the fmalleft difcharge of blood from any part of the body, 
fly immediately to the ufe of ftyptic and aftringent medicines, by which means an 
inflammation of the brain, or fome other fatal difeafe, is occafioned, which, had the 
difcharge been allowed to goon, might have been prevented. Periodical difcharges 
of blood, from whatever part of the body they proceed, muft not be ftopped. 
They are always the efforts of nature to relieve herfelf ; and fatal difeafes have often 
been the confequence of obftruéting them. It may indeed be fometimes neceffary 
to check the violence of fuch difcharges; but even this requires the greateft cau- 
tion. Intheearly period of life, bleeding at the nofe is very common. Thofe 
who are farther advanced in years are more liable to bemoptoe, or difcharges of 
blood from the lungs. After the middle period of life, hemorrhoidal fluxes are 
‘moft common ; and, in the decline of life, difcharges of blood from the urinary 
paffages. Bleeding at the nofe, to perfons who abound with blood, is very falutary. 
‘Tt often cures a vertigo, the head-ach, a phrenzy, and even an epilepfy. In fevers, 
_where there is a great determination of blood towards the head it is of the utmoft 
fervice. It is likewife beneficial in inhammations of the liver and fpleen, and often 
jn the goutandrheumatifm. In all difeafes where bleeding is neceffary, a fponta- 
- neous difcharge of blood from the nofe is of much more fervice than the fame 
quantity let with a lancet. Whenever bleeding at the nofe relieves any bad fymp- 
‘tom, and does. not proceed fo far as to endanger the patient’s life, it ought not to ~ 
be ftopped. But, when it returns frequently, or continues till the pulfe becomes 
low, the extremities begin to grow cold, the lips pale, or the patient complains of 
) bein ig fick, or faint, it muft immediately be ftopped. 
_ CURE,---Let the patient be fet nearly upright, with his head reclining a little, 
ind his ss immerfed i in water about the warmth of new milk. His hands ought 
ikewife to be ‘put in lukewarm water, and his garters may be tied a little tighter 
than ufual. Li res may be applied to the arms, ‘about the place where they are 
ufually made for. bleeding, ~ and with nearly the fame degree of tightnefs. Thefe 
mutt be gradually flackened as the blood begins to ftopg and removed entirely as 
-foon as it gives over. Sometimes dry lint put up the noftrils will ftop the bleeding. 
When this does not fucceed, doffils of lint dipped in ftrong fpirits of wine, may 
oree up the noftrilss or, if that cannot be had, they may be dipped in ee 
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