OX THE I SK OF (.'OLD BATHING. 381 



Case I. — June 7. 1776. — A Negro boy, twelve years of age, 

 (belonging to John Simpson, Esq. in the parish of Trelawny, 

 Jamaica) who was employed in looking after cattle, had, a£ 

 eleven o'clock before noon, a stroke of the sun. He was soon af- 

 terwards taken up speechless, and carried home to the estate, 

 where he lay insensible, and at times much convulsed. He 

 was bled, and well rubbed with camphorated spirits ; vo- 

 latiles were often applied to his nostrils, and a stimulating- 

 clyster thrown up. But as the boy could swallow nothing, 

 Mr Patrick Irving, an experienced surgeon, was sent for, 

 who declared the case to be a locked jaw ; and ordered twenty 

 drops of laudanum to be given him every two hours. His 

 attendants forced him to take the medicine regularly, as also 

 some sage tea, and now and then a little gruel. He had but 

 an indifferent night, and the laudanum was directed to be 

 continued the following day and night. But as no benefit 

 was received from that, or any other means made use of, I 

 was desired to visit him on the 10th of June, and the third 

 day of his illness, at three in the afternoon. 



He was seized with strong spasms every quarter of an 

 hour. During the fit, his body was bent backwards like a 

 bow, and he rested on his heels and head ; at such times his 

 jaws were closely shut. ; but when the spasm ceased, his jaws 

 could be opened so as to admit a spoon. He swallowed li- 

 quids with difficulty ; and the attempt generally brought on 

 a fit sooner than it would otherwise have happened : his skin 

 was warm, his pulse quick and small. He took no food, but 

 what had been forced into him ; and when a stool was sup- 

 posed necessary, it was procured by an emollient clyster. 



The case clearly appeared to be an opisthotonos, joined 

 with a tetanus. The frequency and violence of the spasms 

 portended danger, and there seemed to be a necessity for 

 some speedy method of relief. 



My worthy friend Dr Lind, physician to the royal hospi- 

 tal at Hazlar, first hinted to me the use of cold water in spas- 



