16 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC, 



of fever ; and, more particularly, that topical bleedings are here 

 particularly indicated and proper. 



" The first means of taking off the increased impetus is the 

 antiphlogistic regimen, that is, the avoiding every irritation 

 which subsists, or can occasionally arise in the system ; and here 

 we may employ this regimen in its full extent. 



" The second means to be employed is venesection. This is 

 known indeed to be the universal, and by much the most power- 

 ful remedy in diminishing all inflammation. With regard to 

 its general operation, I have said enough on the subject of fe- 

 ver (CXXXVIII CXLIV.), except one particular, which 

 was reserved for this place, viz. the consideration of the quan- 

 tity which it is proper or allowable to draw. Being the most 

 powerful and effectual remedy, bleeding is very liable to be 

 pushed to excess : it has been the practice to repeat it so long 

 as any symptoms of inflammation have continued ; but undoubt- 

 edly this useful operation has its limits ; and a certain quantity 

 drawn from the veins may even prove mortal. It is true, that 

 this is a very unusual occurrence, because long before such a 

 quantity is drawn, a deliquium animi will usually intervene 

 and prevent further effusion ; but the repetition may produce 

 a fatal effect ; and though it do not kill, it has other effects 

 which at length prove fatal to the system, and it is otherwise 

 attended with many inconveniences. I do not think that this 

 matter has been properly viewed, and the bad effects of exces- 

 sive venesection have not been duly attended to. I shall en- 

 deavour to explain this in a few words : It is a difficult prob- 

 lem to explain in what manner the fluids of animals are retained 

 in their bodies, when we consider how many thousand outlets 

 are constantly open and ready to let them pass. Some of our 

 circulating fluids we can certainly no more confine in any great 

 quantity, than we can water in a sieve. They must certainly 

 be retained, because the outlets or openings, however numerous, 

 are not of sufficient size to allow every portion of the fluids to 

 pass. Thus, the red globules of the blood, and probably other 

 portions of our fluids, and particularly of the coagulable lymph, 

 are of such a size as not to be fit to pass through the various ex- 



cretories ; but these parts are not only retained themselves, but 



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