18 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



to decide how these limits are to be measured. (See 

 CXLII.) 



" Another means of evacuation is purging ; this I also con- 

 sidered under the head of fevers (CXLIV. CXLIX.) ; and 

 I concluded that it is not of the same efficacy in diminishing the 

 impetus of the blood in general as bleeding is, and that in many 

 cases it may be inconvenient ; thus, in rheumatism affecting a 

 number of joints, the frequent rising to go to stool may do 

 more harm by the irritation than the evacuation can do service. 

 The chief conclusion of this, however, is, that purging will very 

 rarely or never supersede bleeding, but for the most part bleed- 

 ing will supersede the trouble of the other evacuation ; and 

 purging therefore is not frequently to be employed further than 

 as a part of the antiphlogistic regimen, and to keep open the 

 belly, which is useful in all feverish or inflammatory states. 

 There is perhaps an exception however in the cases where purg- 

 ing may not only act by the quantity evacuated, but by revul- 

 sion : it is therefore supposed to be of more use in ophthalmia 

 and phrenitis." 



CCLXVIL The means of taking off the spasm of the par- 

 ticular part are nearly the same as those mentioned above, for 

 taking off the spasm of the extreme vessels in the case of fe- 

 ver, and which are treated of from CL. to CC. Only it is ob- 

 served here, that some of these are here especially indicated, 

 and that some of them are to be directed more particularly to 

 the part especially affected, the management of which will be 

 more properly considered when we shall treat of particular in- 

 flammations. 



" Blisters often have a considerable effect in resolving the in- 

 flammation ; and the only explanation of the effect of these re- 

 markably stimulant applications, is either that they take off the 

 spasm of the part affected, by relaxing the neighbouring parts, 

 or that, by the afflux to the neighbouring parts, they relieve 

 those which are immediately connected with them. It is now wel 1 

 known, accordingly, that this blistering is an important remedy, 

 but that it is especially applicable to inflammations which are 

 purely topical, and fixed to one place to which we can approach 

 with our blisters, as in the case of phrenitis, angina, and pleurisy, 



