Vulgarly called the MUMPS. 65 



taken place upon the fudden diminution of the tefticles, that 

 the latter have again become tumid and painful, and that the 

 brain, on this appearance of the difeafe in them, has been im- 

 mediately relieved. Of this curious circumftance, I have feen 

 feveral inftances ; but one was remarkably ftriking in a parti- 

 cular friend, to whom it occurred twice. He, however, did 

 well ; but one tefticle wafted away. Refle<5ling, foon after 

 this paper was firft written, (which was feveral years after my 

 obfervations were begun) on the extraordinary aptitude of this 

 difeafe to fludluate in this manner, I conceived that it would be 

 an objecfl of the firft confequence, to fix the diftemper, if pofli- 

 ble, in its firft fituation, the falivary glands, until it was per- 

 fedtly ended, and prevent this dangerous difpofition of it, to fhift 

 its abode. An early irritation on the parts, and difcharge from 

 the furface, appeared, from what had been obferved of the dif- 

 eafe, and its modfe of termination, naturally to be the moft 

 likely means of effecting this ; and blifters, from what already 

 had been experienced, feemed to be beft calculated for this pur- 

 pofe. There could be no hazard in the trial. With this view, 

 blifters of a lize fufficient to cover the fkin of the tumors, fup- 

 pofing they (hould afterwards attain any confiderable magni- 

 tude, were applied over the falivary glands, before the fwellings 

 had arrived at their height, or any fpontaneous difcharge had 

 appeared ; and fo far was the experiment attended with fuccefs, 

 that I do not remember a fingle inftance of a fwelling of the 

 tefticles taking place, where this mode of attempting to keep up 

 the tumefadlion of. the falivary glands, and anticipating the na- 

 tural difcharge, was put in execution. Wherefore, it became 

 my conftant pradtice afterwards, to apply large blifters on the 

 tumors as foon as they were fufficiently formed to chara<fierife 

 the difeafe ; and I had great fatisfadlion in obferving their uti- 

 lity. From analogy, we may prefume, that a fimilar mode of 

 pradlice would be attended with the moft. beneficial effe<5ls, in 

 Vol. IL i cafes 



