20 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



sipelatous kind, bathing and fomentations have been frequently 

 applied : they may be, I think, of water alone, but that has 

 seldom been the case ; the water has been commonly impreg- 

 nated with a variety of medicines under the title of Refrige- 

 rants and Discutients. But from all the observations which I 

 have been able to make, I believe the effects of water alone to 

 be as considerable as those of any impregnation whatever. The 

 presumption is, that these remedies operate entirely by relax- 

 ing the part as far as the application can reach ; but much 

 more considerable is the relaxation of the innumerable extremi- 

 ties of the nerves under the cuticle in consequence of the warmth 

 and moisture applied ; their relaxation may be communicated 

 to the neighbouring parts, but I have no faith in the absorp- 

 tion of the vapour. 



" Camphor, which has been very commonly employed in ex- 

 ternal inflammations, is most certainly possessed of sedative 

 power, and from its remarkable volatility, may be supposed to 

 penetrate the parts to a considerable degree ; but its application 

 to the extremities of the nerves may be supposed to account for 

 some of its effects in that way. I would not, therefore, refuse 

 the virtues of camphor on this occasion ; but from want, either 

 of opportunity or of a proper administration, or from some 

 other circumstance, I have seldom found any remarkable re- 

 solvent effects from camphor, applied directly to phlegmonic or 

 erysipelatous inflammations. But a strong application of cam- 

 phor will certainly very often take off rheumatic, and even ar- 

 thritic pains. 



" Emetics are inserted here on no very clear ground. Their 

 operation in fevers in determining to the surface I have render- 

 ed sufficiently probable, but how this will apply to cases of to- 

 pical affection is not very evident ; and I cannot say that they 

 can have any direct operation upon the proper inflammation, 

 even supposing that to depend upon a spasm. But in order to 

 explain their effects, we must consider that most inflammations 

 are attended by a fever, which, though symptomatic, depends 

 on some degree of febrile spasm affecting the whole body ; and 

 certainly emetics may, in some measure, resolve that general 

 febrile spasm, and therefore may be of considerable use even in 



