8 On the Treatment of Burns and Scalds. 
But this last value of the litre, although it agrees-very nearly. 
indeed with M. Brisson’s statement of its value, in page 17 of 
his Instruction, is the least correct of the two, supposing the 
Report, stated in the third volume, 4to, p, 324 of Nicholson’s 
Journal, as made to the National Institute, that the ‘ true and 
definitive métre is 443°296 lignes,” be correct ; and in that case 
all the calculations marked with a star (*) above are correct, 
and the others erroneous. 
To Messrs. Nicholson and Tiiloch. 
Ill. On the Treatment of Burns and Scalds. By Mr. RicuarD 
Waker, Surgeon and Apothecary, Oxford. 
Oxford, Jan. 6, 1814. 
Ir is a matter of no ordinary importance, in the profession of 
surgery, to know the best mode of treating burns and sealds, 
particularly i in what manner to proceed immediately after the 
injury has been received, and which it seems is still a deside- 
ratum. 
It is singular, that even of late years, two modes of practice, 
directly opposite to each other’ in principle, have been recom- 
mended by practitioners of the first eminence in the profession. 
One method, and I believe the most prevalent one, is to coun- 
teract or prevent the ill consequences arising from a lurn or 
scald, as in other instanees of inflammation, by an aniphlogistic 
process ; viz. by cold sedative applications: the other, which is, 
the latest, is by the adoption of a stimulating process ; viz. by 
the use of inflammant stimulating applieations, and these pre- 
viously made warm or rather hot. 
The abettors of cach method give a rationale of the means 
by which each mode produces its peculiar good effect. 
The former of these methods is so consonant with common 
opinion, and the ordinary mode of reasoning, as to require from 
me neither explanation nor comment. 
The latter mode, however, is, at first view, so repugnant to 
ordinary reasoning, as to excite attention. 
The rationale upon which this is stated to act, is by counter- 
acting or preventing ensuing inflammation, vesication, and the 
other ill consequences which are incident to injuries of this na- 
ture; that is, by not suffering the excitement, irritation, or in- 
creased action, in the part, produced by the injury, to subside too 
hastily ; but, by the immediate application of appropr tate sti- 
muli, to maintain this increased action for a certain time ; and 
afterwards, by. a due adjustment of the succeeding stimult, to di- 
minish it gradually, until the part injured is by these regulating 
means, 
