INFLAMMATIONS. 93 



fected with swelling. But it goes no farther than relieving the 

 part ; for when the general diathesis prevails, the pain may be 

 found next night in the next joint ; thus I have tried to follow 

 it from joint to joint, but after taking great pains, I found that 

 general bleeding was necessary to cure the diathesis. Topical 

 bleedings will go but a short way to the cure of the disease, but 

 they have their place ; all the quantity evacuated will hardly 

 do harm, and they may be employed to give relief to the exqui- 

 site acute pains, particularly where these are obstinately fixed to 

 one part and in danger of becoming chronic, and where at the 

 same time the general diathesis is removed by general venesec- 

 tion." 



CCCCLXV. To take off the phlogistic diathesis prevailing 

 in this disease, purging may be useful, if procured by medicines 

 which do not stimulate the whole system, such as the neutral 

 salts, and which have in some measure a refrigerant power. 

 Purging, however, is not so powerful as bleeding in removing 

 phlogistic diathesis ; and when the disease has become general 

 and violent, frequent stools are inconvenient, and even hurtful, 

 by the motion and pain which they occasion. 



" For myself, I do not find by observation, that cathartics 

 have any efficacy here. But as costiveness is an attendant on 

 rheumatism, and stimulates the whole system, I would keep the 

 belly soluble by the use of laxative glysters." 



CCCCLXVI. In acute rheumatism, applications to the 

 pained parts are of little service. Fomentations, in the begin- 

 ning of the disease, rather aggravate than relieve the pains. 

 The rubefacients and camphor are more effectual in relieving 

 the pains, but generally they only shift the pain from one part 

 into another, and do little towards the cure of the general affec- 

 tion. Blistering, applied to the pained part, may also be very 

 effectual in removing the pain from it, but will be of little use 

 except where the pains are much confined to one part. 



CCCCLXVII. The several remedies mentioned from 

 CCCCLXI.toCCCCLXV.,moderatetheviolenceofthedisease, 

 and sometimes remove it entirely ; but they sometimes fail in 

 this, and leave the cure imperfect. The attempting a cure by 

 large and repeated bleedings, is attended with many inconve- 

 niences (See CXL.) ; and the most effectual and safe method 



