62 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



excite coughing ; and in some persons they certainly have this 

 effect ; but, except in persons of a peculiar habit, I have not 

 found their effects in exciting cough so considerable or trouble- 

 some as to prevent our seeking the advantages otherwise to be 

 obtained from these medicines. 



CCCLXX. Some practitioners have doubted if purgatives 

 can be safely employed in this disease ; and indeed a spontane- 

 ous diarrhoea occurring in the beginning of the disease, has 

 seldom proved useful : but I have found the moderate use of 

 cooling laxatives generally safe ; and have always found it use- 

 ful to keep the belly open by frequent emollient glysters. 



CCCLXXI. To excite full vomiting by emetics, I judge to 

 be a dangerous practice in this disease : but I have found it 

 useful to exhibit nauseating doses ; and, in a somewhat advanc- 

 ed state of the disease, I have found such doses prove the 

 best means of promoting expectoration. 



" The French practitioners, particularly those averse from 

 bleeding, have recourse to the Tartar Emetic, in small doses, 

 so as to excite only nausea, and, as they allege, with advantage ; 

 and to me it appears not improbable that this remedy may be 

 useful in regard to the general fever, to take off the spasm : 

 but I cannot imagine that it has any considerable effect on the 

 topical inflammation. 



" We conclude, that the use of emetics and purgatives is 

 somewhat doubtful here. They are certainly not to be depend- 

 ed upon as very efficacious remedies, or as evacuations which 

 can supersede the use of venesection." 



CCCLXXII. Fomentations and poultices applied to the 

 pained part have been recommended, and may be useful ; but 

 the application of them is often inconvenient, and may be en- 

 tirely omitted for the sake of the more effectual remedy, blis- 

 tering. 



Very early in the disease, a blister should be applied as near 

 to the pained part as possible. But as, when the irritation of a 

 blister is present, it renders bleeding less effectual ; so the ap- 

 plication of the blister should be delayed till a bleeding shall have 

 been employed. If the disease be moderate, the blister may be 

 applied immediately after the first bleeding ; but if the disease 

 be violent, and it is presumed that a second bleeding may be 



