FEVERS. 633 



lished by some of the most eminent physicians on the conti- 

 nent. M. M. 



" Musk is a medicine that has been very lately introduced 

 into practice, but since it has, we have enough of facts to show 

 that it is a powerful remedy ; and were we a little more secure 

 of its genuine condition, it would be very often employed with 

 great advantage. But while I have seen it of great service, I 

 have in many instances been entirely disappointed, even in very 

 large doses, such as 3ss. repeated several times a day ; whether 

 from the medicine not being suited to the case, or from its being 

 in a bad condition and suited to no case at all, which certainly 

 often happens, I shall not determine. With regard to what we 

 can observe of its operation when it is given in large doses, and 

 operates sensibly, it commonly procures a sound sleep, and very 

 often a profuse sweat, removing the spasm which had taken 

 place. From this operation it seems to approach in its nature to 

 opium ; and at present it appears that its use is, for the most 

 part, to be regulated in the same manner as that of opium. 

 We abstain from it in inflammatory cases, or in cases where the 

 Diathesis phlogistica is supposed to subsist, and in topical affec- 

 tions of the brain ; but I am disposed to say and I should 

 have said the same with regard to camphor that even in these 

 cases it may be employed with more safety than opium, so far 

 as my experience goes ; and in fevers, without much nicety in 

 discerning the circumstances, wherever the symptoms of strong 

 spasm appear, where there is a delirium, subsultus tendinum 

 and convulsive motions, without the irritation being remarkable, 

 and where we presume the disease to be in the nervous system, 

 there the musk has been of considerable service." 



CXCI. The inflammation produced by the application of 

 cantharides to the skin, affords a certain proof of their stimulant 

 power : but, in many persons, the effect of that stimulus is not 

 considerable ; in many, it is not communicated to the whole 

 system ; and, even when the effect does take in the whole system, 

 it seems to be taken off very entirely, by the effusion and evacu- 

 ation of serum from the blistered part. I conclude, therefore, 

 that neither much good is to be expected, nor much harm to be 

 apprehended, from the stimulant power of blistering ; and the 

 certainty of this conclusion is established by the great benefit 



VOL. i. 2 Y 



