PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



the first days. It is very well known, that if, hi inflammatory 

 fevers, we neglect venesection during the first three days, the 

 mischief of that neglect is not to be recovered afterwards ; and 

 as certainly in the nervous fever, the too liberal use of that re- 

 medy will induce a fatal debility that is not to be recovered. 

 The same may be said of the different remedies we employ, as 

 the Emetic Tartar, which is a medicine of considerable efficacy 

 for conducting fevers with more safety to their salutary end, 

 when given during the first week ; but unless we obtain the 

 effect of it in moderating the symptoms of fever, and in ob- 

 taining considerable remissions during this period, we seldom 

 observe much benefit afterwards. 



" 2. I go on to consider some cases a little more advanced; and, 

 " A. A continuation of the second and third cases, that I 

 stated before (b. c.) ; of the second (6.), which is more consi- 

 derable, and manifestly a synochus, or of the inflammatory case of 

 the third (c.), where the symptoms are at least dubious ; and 

 most of the collateral circumstances lead towards the inflamma- 

 tory. The symptoms continued, especially those of an increas- 

 ed action of the heart and arteries, are not very violent indeed, 

 or they would immediately lead to the repetition of the vene- 

 section ; but one special circumstance happens to occur, of 

 which I must take notice here. After one venesection, after a 

 vomit and glysters, and the use of saline mixtures, a sweating 

 has spontaneously come on, and this sweating, from a prejudice 

 which has been common enough of expecting relief by it from 

 all feverish disorders, has been very much encouraged ; the 

 patient has been kept close covered in bed has been urged to 

 take warm drink to take the saline and other sudorific medi- 

 cines. In these circumstances, we find that every symptom of 

 the hot fit goes on increasing, the heat continues great, head- 

 ach violent, the pulse increases in frequency, and, perhaps, in 

 hardness a very decisive proof, as I mentioned before, that the 

 sweat is not operating properly ; and, with all this, the sweat is 

 not of a proper kind, is not universal, does not extend to the 

 lower extremities ; it frequently sinks in, as the language is, it is 

 fluid, but clammy. This case frequently occurs in our prac- 

 tice, before the physician has had occasion to direct or advise ; 

 and where this happens, the measure is immediately to stop 



