FEVERS. 643 



moving fibres ; but they are different from the tonics, as more 

 directly exciting and increasing the action of the heart and ar- 

 teries. This mode of their operation renders the use of them 

 ambiguous ; and when an inflammatory diathesis is present, as 

 so often happens in the beginning of fevers, the effects of these 

 stimulants may be very hurtful ; but it still remains probable, 

 that, in the advanced state of fevers when debility prevails, 

 they may be useful. 



CCXVIII. What are the stimulants that may be most pro- 

 perly employed, I am uncertain, as the use of them in this age 

 has been rare ; but I am disposed to believe that, of all kinds, 

 wine is the best. 



" It would be proper to consider the other remedies which 

 at one time or other have been employed, but I do not find 

 myself in a condition for this ; for, during the time of my 

 practice, these stimulants have been so carefully avoided, that 

 I have not observations to conduct me in this matter ; and with 

 respect to former times, when physicians were strongly preju- 

 diced for or against them, it is difficult to trust to any of their 

 facts. I must therefore content myself with some general re- 

 flections upon one or two of these which are still retained in 

 practice. 



"^The first I shall mention is the Radix Contrayervae, which 

 is somewhat stimulant in its sensible properties, but by no means 

 considerably so ; and I am persuaded that at all times it has 

 had more credit than it deserves : so far as I can observe, it has 

 never been employed in a simple state, or without the combina- 

 tion of substances to which its powers may be imputed." 



The Serpentaria, by its aromatic acrimony, proves a power- 

 ful stimulant to the system, and therefore may be useful also in 

 some cases of continued fevers ; but it is to be employed with 

 much caution. The stimulant power of the serpentaria is espe- 

 cially suited to the low and advanced state of the typhus only ; 

 and even then it will be more safely joined with the bark than 

 employed for its stimulant power alone. M. M. 



" From the rareness of nervous and low fevers in this coun- 

 try, and particularly from the Sydenhamian principles which I 

 had early imbibed, I have never seen the serpentaria so fre- 

 quently employed as to pass a confident judgment with regard 



