600 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



CXXVIII. The action of the heart and arteries may be 

 diminished, 



1. By avoiding or moderating those irritations, which, in 

 one degree or other, are almost constantly applied to the body. 



2. By the use of certain sedative powers. 



3. By diminishing the tension and tone of the arterial system. 

 " The first title, then, is the means of avoiding irritation. By 



irritation I do not mean the various external, occasional, and, 

 as I may say, accidental causes of irritation. I am not to speak 

 of avoiding extremely warm and stimulating medicines, which 

 belongs to another head, the preparatory indications ; here we 

 properly comprehend those irritations which occur from the or- 

 dinary business and actions of life, and which are in some degree 

 unavoidably applied to the system. Our system is not a mere 

 automaton, nor supported in its duration by any powers, whe- 

 ther of mind or body, subsisting within itself; it appears that 

 we have constant need of some external assistance, of external 

 impressions ; and if these could be removed, we would not only 

 certainly fall asleep, but we would very soon become dead. I 

 have formerly said that the energy of the brain, that which is 

 properly the vital substance, does depend upon certain other 

 exercises and functions of the animal economy, and both to- 

 gether certainly depend upon the power of external impressions. 

 In this respect, therefore, some degree of irritation applied to 

 our system is unavoidable ; but when it is attended with the ex- 

 cess of stimulant power in the case of fever, it is our business 

 to render this unavoidable irritation as moderate as possible." 



CXXIX. The irritations (CXXVIII. 1.) almost constant- 

 ly applied, are the impressions made upon our senses, the exer- 

 cise of the body and mind, and the taking in of aliments. The 

 avoiding these as much as possible, or the moderating their 

 force, constitutes what is rightly called the Antiphlogistic Regi- 

 men proper to be employed in almost every continued fever. 

 " (A distinction ought to be made between Remedy and Re- 

 gimen. Thus bleeding is an antiphlogistic remedy, but not a 

 part of the antiphlogistic regimen.)" 



CXXX. The conduct of this regimen is to be directed by 

 the following rides and considerations. 



