On Diseases and Accidents of Farmers, 213 



Treatment. — Open the punctured part, and fill it with 

 lint, dipped in spirit of turpentine. If the spasms are 

 very violent, and the sufferer be a strong man, 16 oz. of 

 blood may be taken away. The cold bath must then be 

 used, dashing two or three buckets full of cold water in 

 quick succession, upon the naked body ; after which, 

 powerful friction with coarse cloths, should be employed, 

 and the patient put to bed. A glass of Madeira wine is 

 then to be given, regularly every half hour, until a pow- 

 erful impression be made upon the system. It is surpri- 

 sing how much wine may be taken in this disease, even 

 by one not accustomed to the use of it in health, and it 

 must not be withheld from the fear of intoxication. If 

 the disease does not yield to this treatment, the cold bath 

 must be repeated. As the bo^vels are obstinately costive, 

 they must be opened by ten grains of calomel, and fifteen 

 of jalap, or by castor oil, aided by glysters. Ample expe- 

 rience authorises me to say, that opium, although often 

 given, is useless, and frequently hunful in this disease, 

 vvhen given internally. It neither relieves the spasm, nor 

 procures sleep, and interferes with the treatment, which 

 is known to be succesful. Externally applied, in the 

 form of laudanum, and mixed with oil, it may however 

 be useful, by relieving the painful rigidity of the muscles 

 of the jaw and neck. The proportions of each should be 

 equal. The rigid parts ou£;,ht to be covered with flan- 

 nel, after being well annointed with the mixture. A large 

 tea-spoonful of Peruvian bark should be given every hour 

 during the disease, and three times a day for some days 

 after recovery. If the treatment recommended, should 

 fail in making an impression on the disease, I advise the 

 use of Dr. Hartshorn's plan, of inflaming the surface along 

 the course of the spine, by means of caustic potash. The 

 mode is, to tie a piece of sponge to a fork, and after dip- 

 ping it in a solution of the caustic in water, in the pro- 

 LI 



