642 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



go farther than 3ij. of that which is more commonly in use. I 

 mention this, because certainly whatever we may find some 

 stomachs able to bear occasionally, we ought to be as tender of 

 them as possible, and we cannot take too much pains in the 

 choice of this medicine. Next, let me observe, that it is not 

 perhaps desirable to exhibit the large doses that even the stomach 

 will bear. Within these twelve years, it was a practice in the 

 London hospitals to cure intermittents by giving a large dose 

 three or four or more drachms immediately at the approach of 

 the fit. I do not say that it is the best practice ; upon the con- 

 trary, there are several objections attending it, and the stomach 

 will seldom bear such large doses ; but wherever we are obliged 

 to divide the doses, we should take care that those which we 

 give separately, be brought as near to one another as possible, 

 that so the effects may be more considerable upon the system. 

 So, if we give one drachm for a dose, we should give it at as 

 short intervals as may be, as at the interval of one hour. 



" There are cases of children, particularly, where neither in 

 one form nor other can we exhibit the bark by the mouth ; and 

 it is of consequence to know that it may be exhibited in the 

 form of glysters with advantage and efficacy. I say this, how- 

 ever, only from the accounts of other persons, for I have never 

 been quite sensible of its effects when given in this form ; but 

 the experience of many others, whose accuracy I can have no 

 doubt of, is in favour of this. 



" With regard to the exhibition of bark, in spite of its seem- 

 ing astringency, it is most certain that it very often proves pur- 

 gative. To what particular circumstance of the constitution 

 this is owing I cannot explain ; but so it is in fact, in certain 

 persons it runs off by stool ; and so often as it does so, it fails 

 in the cure of intermittent fevers. It would perhaps be difficult 

 to explain that; but I can say, that Sydenham and many other 

 practitioners have observed, that we are in danger of bringing 

 back intermittent fevers if we employ purgative medicines soon 

 after we have stopped them with the bark ; and we have the 

 same observation in De Haen. 



CCXVII. Another set of medicines to be employed for 

 obviating debility and its effects, are the direct stimulants 

 (CCIII.). These, in some measure, increase the tone of the 



