606 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



those above mentioned, beside their stimulant powers, have other 

 qualities by which they may be hurtful. 



It appears to me that the supposed utility of stimulants, in 

 certain cases of fever, has often arisen from a mistake in having 

 ascribed to their stimulant, what really depended upon their an- 

 tispasmodic power. 



CXXXIII. A second head of the means (CXXVIII. 2.) 

 for moderating the violence of reaction, comprehends certain se- 

 dative powers, which may be employed to diminish the activity 

 of the whole body, and particularly that of the sanguiferous sys- 

 tem. 



The first of these to be mentioned is the application of cold. 



Heat is the chief support of the activity of the animal sys- 

 tem, which is therefore provided in itself with a power of ge- 

 nerating heat ; but, at the same time, we observe that this would 

 go to excess, were it not constantly moderated by a cooler tem- 

 perature in the surrounding atmosphere. When, therefore, that 

 power of the system generating heat is increased, as is common- 

 ly the case in fevers, it is necessary not only to avoid all means 

 of increasing it further, but it seems proper also to apply air of 

 a cooler temperature, or at least to apply it more entirely and 

 freely, than in a state of health. 



Some late experiments in the smallpox, and in continued fe- 

 vers, show that the free admission of cool air to the body is a 

 powerful remedy in moderating the violence of reaction ; but 

 what is the mode of its operation, to what circumstances of fever 

 it is peculiarly adapted, or what limitations it requires, I shall 

 not venture to determine, till more particularly instructed by 

 farther experience. " A very singular observation has been 

 made in modern times, that even cold bathing and washing the 

 body all over with cold water is often a very useful remedy ; 

 and we are sure from facts, that the application of cold is not 

 only a safe but a proper remedy." 



CXXXIV. A second sedative power which may be employ- 

 ed in fevers is that of certain medicines, known, in the writings 

 on the Materia Medica, under the title of REFRIGERANTS. 



The chief of these are acids of all kinds, when sufficiently di- 

 luted ; and they are, in several respects, remedies adapted to 



