634 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



arising from the proper practice of blistering in inflammatory 

 diseases. 



CXCII. Much has been imputed to the evacuation occa- 

 sioned by blistering ; but it is never so considerable as to affect 

 the whole system ; and therefore can neither, by sudden deple- 

 tion, relax the sanguiferous vessels, nor, by any revulsion, affect 

 the general distribution of the fluids. 



CXCIII. The evacuation, however, is so considerable as to 

 affect the neighbouring vessels ; and the manifest utility of blis- 

 tering near the part affected, in inflammatory diseases, leads me 

 to believe, that blistering, by deriving to the skin, and produc- 

 ing an effusion there, relaxes the spasm of the deeper seated 

 vessels. I apprehend it to be in this manner that the tumour of 

 a joint, from an effusion into the cellular texture under the skin, 

 takes off the rheumatic pain affecting that joint. 



CXCIV. Analogous to this, it may be held, that the good 

 effects of blistering in continued fevers arise from its relaxing 

 the spasm of the extreme vessels, by a communication of the 

 blistered part with the rest of the skin ; and this is illustrated 

 by the effect of blistering in colic and dysentery. 



CXCV. It appears to me, that blistering may be employed 

 at any period of continued fevers ; but that it will be of most ad- 

 vantage in the advanced state of such fever, when, the reaction 

 being weaker, all ambiguity from the stimulant power of blis- 

 tering is removed, and when it may best concur with other cir- 

 cumstances tending to a final solution of the spasm. 



" Blisters may be used, I say, in the nervous fever strictly 

 so called, at any period ; but they are most properly used in the 

 advanced state of the Synochus, when the inflammatory state is 

 over and the debility prevails. Some persons may say in fav- 

 our of their early application promiscuously, that if their power 

 tends to take off the spasm, it is more desirable to obviate that 

 spasm, than to remove it afterwards. But in spite of what may 

 be said in favour of this, I am well persuaded that it is not in 

 the power of any remedy whatever, to cut short the duration of 

 certain fevers. 11 



CXCVI. From the view of this matter given in CXCIII. 

 and CXCIV. it will appear, that the part of the body to which 

 blisters ought to be applied is indifferent, excepting upon the 



