344 ON THE EXTERNAL USE OF COLD 



opiate, joined with antimonial wine, but this did not procure 

 sleep, or open the pores of the skin. No inflammatory symp- 

 toms being present, a drachm of Peruvian bark was taken 

 every hour for six hours successively, and now and then a 

 glass of port-wine, but with no apparent benefit. When up- 

 on deck, my pains were greatly mitigated, and the colder the 

 air the better. This circumstance, and the failure of every 

 means I had tried, encouraged me to put in practice on my- 

 self^ what I had often wished to try on others, in fevers simi- 

 lar to my own. 



September 9th, having given the necessary directions, about 

 three o'clock in the afternoon I stripped off all my clothes, and 

 threw a sea-cloak loosely about me till I got upon deck, when 

 the cloak also was laid aside : three bucketsful of cold salt 

 water were then thrown at once on me ; the shock was great, 

 but I felt immediate relief. The headache and other pains in- 

 stantly abated, and a fine glow and diaphoresis succeeded. 

 Towards evening, however, the febrile symptoms threatened 

 a return, and I had recourse again to the same method as 

 before, with the same good effect. I now took food with an 

 appetite, and, for the first time, had a sound night's rest. 



September 10th, no fever, but a little uneasiness in the 

 hams and thighs, — used the cold bath twice. 



September 11th, every symptom vanished, but, to prevent 

 a relapse, I used the cold bath twice. 



Mr Thomas Kikk, a young gentleman, passenger in the 

 same ship, fell sick of a fever on the 9th of August. His 

 symptoms were nearly similar to mine, and, having taken 

 some medicines without experiencing any relief, he was de- 

 sirous of trying the cold bath, which, with my approbation, 

 he did, on the 11th and 12th of September, and, by this 

 method, was happily restored to health. He lives at this 

 time near Liverpool. 



There are a number of testimonies, both ancient and mo- 

 dern, of the cure of putrid and malignant fever.*, by ad mi - 



