in a Case of Strangulated Hernia. 153 



Other engagements prevented my seeing the patient 

 again before the middle of the succeeding afternoon, 

 when I found the febrile diathesis very considerable, the 

 strength much prostrated, and the stomach in an ex- 

 ceedingly irritable state. After bleeding the patient four 

 or six ounces, I immersed it in the warm bath, and 

 again renewed my efforts to reduce the tumor by the 

 taxis. These attempts were attended with the same 

 success as my former ; which determined me, after the 

 child had been in the bath an hour or more, again to try 

 the efficacy of cold water, to be poured upon the tumor 

 while the patient was partially immersed in the warm 

 water. The event proved the disproportion between the 

 means used and the obstinacy of the complaint. 



After an unsuccessful trial of all the above expedients 

 to effect the reduction of the hernial tumor, I suggested 

 to the parents, that an operation was the forlorn hope, 

 upon which the salvation of their child depended, and 

 that the sooner it was performed, the greater would be 

 the probability of its saving the life of the patient. 

 Upon this I left the house, agreeing to call again in the 

 evening;. 



During this interval I met a medical friend, to whom 

 I related the case, at the same time inviting him to be 

 present while I should perform the operation the suc- 

 ceeding morning. My friend was polite enough to 

 relate to me a case of strangulated hernia, that had 

 resisted all the usual remedies, which Dr. Thatcher of 

 Plymouth finally reduced by the external application of 



VOL. III. PART I, U 



