332 ON THE CLSE OF COLD LATHING 



raodic affections. Here, then, was a fair opportunity, and 

 Mr Irving readily agreed to put it in practice. 



The boy was stripped naked, and carried out into the open 

 air : his body and limbs were so stiff, that it was with some 

 difficulty we could place him in a sitting posture. Two large 

 pails of cold water were forcibly thrown on him at the same 

 time. The shock from the water made him start on his feet, 

 he recovered his senses in a great measure, and seemed sur- 

 prised at what was done to him. After being rubbed with a 

 dry cloth, a loose frock was put on, and a kindly glowing 

 heat succeeded. By the help of a person, he walked about 

 for a little while, and was then suffered to lie down. His jaws 

 already were greatly relaxed, and he swallowed some broth. 

 I ordered him to lie in a cool airy place ; that he should be 

 covered with a single sheet, and that the cold water should 

 be thrown on him once in four hours. 



June 11. — He slept a good deal in the night ; the spasms 

 less frequent, and much weaker than before. His senses arc 

 returned ; he asked for drink, and took some nourishment. 

 He complains of a stiffness in his neck and jaws, and now 

 and then of a violent pain in his stomach. 



I directed the cold bath every three hours, in the day time. 



June 12. — He had a tolerable good night, his jaws much 

 freer. The pains in his neck, jaws, and stomach, greatly 

 abated ; he takes food seemingly with an appetite, and had 

 a natural stool. The cold water was thrown on him three 

 times this day. 



June 13. — The spasms entirely gone ; the uneasiness in his 

 jaws, &c. so trifling that my attendance was no farther neces- 

 sary. The cold water was used twice a-day, and by the six- 

 teenth the cure was completed. 



Case II. — On the 17th of March 1777, 1 was sent for to visit 

 a Negro man, at Rosehall estate in St James's, the property 

 of the Honourable John Palmek, Esq. 



