for the Cure of the Hydrophobia. 259' 



fpeclfic power, yet (as an animal mucilage well adapted to 

 render the oil mifcible with the animal fluids, and alio to . 

 reconcile it to the ftomach) feems a proper addition ; nor 

 need there be much exaftnefs from an apprehenfion of an 

 over-dofe. A domeltic remedy fo fimple, fo innocent, and 

 fo well recommended, is certainly entitled to a full and candid 

 trial in this country. 



" That the human body' may be thrown into a copious 

 perfpiration by friftion with warm olive oil, is a circumftance 

 unnoticed till lately. The effefts of this procefs, as praftifed 

 at the Smyrna hofpital, in the prevention and even cure of 

 the plague, in the firft ftage of infeftion, are related by 

 Count Berchtold in his late interefting tra6l on that fub- 

 je6l *; and fince confirmed by the teftimony of father Lewis, 

 fuperintendant of the hofpital. 



*< If olive oil, then, be really a prefervative againft the 

 poifon of the incenfcd viper, and even the peftilential con- 

 tagion itfelf, is there not reafon to fufpetft that oil and ole- 

 aginous fubftances may have had a greater (liare in counter- 

 afting the canine poifon than the votaries of mercury ever 

 imagined ? *' 



" It is not pretended, indeed, to be a certain, only a pro- 

 bable remed)', after the hydrophobia has aftually commenced; 

 analogy affording only aprefumption, not a proof; nor can its 

 efficacy be fully afcertained, but by repeated trials and atten- 

 tive obfervation. As the prevention depends on due manage- 

 ment of the wound, this medicine is judicioufly ordered to be 

 applied externally for feveral days. On this, probably, and 

 this alone, ought the main ftrefs to be laid ; yet, to calm the 

 patient's mind, and to ftrengthen his hopes of fecurity, it 

 may not be amifs to give the oil alfo internally, according to 

 the direftions. Previous to this plan of treatment, however, 

 the wound ought to be diligently wafhed and cauterifed. 



'' If it cure dogs after the infeftion has taken place, it is 

 a remarkable circumftance; but ftill more fo, if it effe6l this 

 by throwing them into a profufe perfpiration. This muft cer- 

 tainly be a mirtake. Dogs, indeed, perfpire copioufly from 



• Defcriziorti! del niwvo rimeJio citratinjo e preferi/atitio contro la prjie. 

 See Philofophical Magazine, Vol. II.-p. 256. 



L 1 3 the 



