TREATMENT OF ACUTE DISEASES. 369 



I shall call the Lavatio JHgida. The earlier this mode is 

 practised the better ; because, in typhus, the patient grojvs 

 daily worse; for in the second week there is a great increase 

 of fever, and a proportionate loss of strength : but even then 

 Dr Gregory has found the application of the wet sponge act 

 as a charm ; nor have delirium or petechia,' been considered 

 by him as any bar to the adoption of this remedy ; on the 

 contrary, where these have been present, and the pulse much 

 quickened, he has, by the lavatio jrigida, speedily reduced 

 the pulsations from 110 to 90 in a minute, and the deli- 

 rium and other threatening symptoms have soon after dis- 

 appeared. 



About a fortnight ago, a student of physic, who had been 

 ill for some days before Dr Gregory was applied to, had, 

 besides a great degree of fever and delirium, numerous spots, 

 or petechia?, on his breast, belly, and extremities. The lava- 

 tio Jng'ula was used on the day the Doctor first visited him, 

 and by next morning the delirium had ceased, and the pete- 

 chia? disappeared. The pulse, which on the preceding day 

 had been at 110, was now at 80; and by continuing the ap- 

 plication of the wet sponge now and then, the pulse became 

 natural on the fourth day after the Doctor first saw him. 

 Many similar cases might be adduced from the books of the 

 clinical ward of the Royal Infirmary. 



Successful as this method has been in the hands of Dr 

 Gregory, and some others, besides mine, I am well aware 

 that much caution and judgment are necessary in putting it 

 in practice. In all cases where there are visceral obstructions, 

 cold bathing does much mischief; and in fevers of this sort, 

 with inflammatory diathesis, there is reason to suspect topical 

 inflammation of the viscera ; in this last case, if cold bathing 

 were made use of, the patient would run the risk of his life, 

 and the physician justly lose his character. Other methods of 

 treatment must therefore be had recourse to, and these I will 



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