PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



watery fluids has been at all times a remedy much employed in 

 fevers ; and in no instance more remarkably than by the Spanish 

 and Italian physicians, in the use of what they call the diceta 

 aquea. 



" This was first thought of in Spain, from thence transported 

 to Naples, and has been practised in Italy for many years. 

 There is an account of it in the notes of Cirillo, a Neapolitan 

 physician, to Etmuller's works (Genev. 1736. 4 torn. fol.). The 

 practice has not been confined to Italy, but has extended to 

 France ; and it is a favourite remedy of Senac (de recond. feb. 

 nat. p. 254."). 



CLVIII. This practice consists in taking away every other 

 kind of aliment and drink, and in giving in divided portions 

 every day, for several days together, six or eight pounds of plain 

 water, generally cold, but sometimes warm. All this, however, 

 is to be done only after the disease has continued for some time, 

 and at least for a week. 



CLIX. A second means (CLIII. 2.) of determining to the 

 surface of the body, is by the use of neutral salts. These, in 

 a certain dose taken into the stomach, produce soon after a 

 sense of heat upon the surface of the body ; and, if the body 

 be covered close and kept warm, a sweat is readily brought out. 

 The same medicines, taken during the cold stage of a fever, 

 very often put an end to the cold stage and bring on the hot ; 

 and they are also remarkable for stopping the vomiting which so 

 frequently attends the cold stage of fevers. All this shows that 

 neutral salts have a power of determining the blood to the sur- 

 face of the body, and may therefore be of use in taking off the 

 spasm which in fevers subsists there. 



CLX. The neutral most commonly employed in fevers, is 

 that formed of an alkali with the native acid of vegetables : but 

 all the other neutrals have more or less of the same virtue ; and 

 perhaps some of them, particularly the ammoniacal salts, pos- 

 sess it in a stronger degree. 



CLXI. As cold water taken into the stomach often shows 

 the same diaphoretic effects with the neutral salts, it is probable 

 that the effect of the latter depends upon their refrigerant 

 powers mentioned above (CXXXIV.). What is the effect of 

 the neutral salts, given when they are forming, and in a state of 



