Mud-Bat hs. 151 



as the case of the patient tnay demand. These are thrown by 

 after Iiaving been used, and at the conchision of the season re- 

 turned to the hot fountains, where they are left till the ensuing 

 spring, that they may impregnate themselves anew with the mi- 

 neral virtues which these are supposed to contain. The most 

 obvious of these to an ignorant man are salt and sulphur. The 

 muds are, on being taken out, intensely hot, and must be kneaded 

 and stirred some lime before they can be borne. When applied 

 — an operation whicli very much resembles the taking a stucco 

 cast — they retain their heat without much sensible diminution for 

 three quarters of an hour, having the effect of a slight rubefacient 

 on the affected part, and producing a profuse perspiration from 

 the whole body; a disposition which continues more particularly 

 in the part to which they have been applied when unchecked by 

 cold. Hence heat is considered as so essentially seconding their 

 operations, that this watering-place, or rather nmdding-place, is 

 usually nearly deserted by the end of August, though there are some 

 who continue to wallow on through the whole of September. 



The baths, though sometimes considered as a remedy in them- 

 selves, are most generally held to be mere auxiliaries to the muds, 

 and usually but serve as a prologue and interlude to the dirty 

 performance which forms the subject of the preceding paragraph, 

 they being supposed to open the pores and disposi the skin to 

 greater susceptibility. 



I can for myself see nothing improbable in the effects which 

 the muds are supposed in many cases to produce ; but to pursue 

 a safer mode of reasoning, I have seen myself cases which might 

 alone fairly establisii the reputation of Abano. It is true that 

 the muds act very uncertainly; but this is probably the case with 

 every medicament : and I suppose, with the exception of bark 

 and mercury, it may be said tiiere is no such thing as a specific. 

 A gentleman of Feltre, of about two or three and forty, was 

 brought here last vear labouring under the effects of a recent 

 paralytic stroke, and contrary to the advice of his physicians, 

 who considered him too much reduced to be able to support the 

 severe discipline of the place. His first attempt confirmed these 

 opinions, and he was oi)liged through mere debility to suspend 

 his operations ; but he was of that class of invalids who determine 

 to get well, and in their own way. Having therefore reposed till 

 he had recovered breath, he returned to the charge, and took 

 the muds and baths for a considerable time, without injury indeed 

 at first, Init without any sensible benefit. At length,, when all 

 considered his perseverance as fruitless, these began to act ; and 

 their tflect was as rapid as it had at first been slow. He now 

 mounted on crutches, and after a few days quitted the jjlace, 



K 4 having 



