INFLAMMATIONS. 95 



general diathesis is more or less diminished by a certain quan- 

 tity of blood drawn ; but I must own that the more hardy prac- 

 tice of others, and frequent experience, have shown, contrary to 

 my fears, that the medicine may be administered while a con- 

 siderable fever still accompanies the disease ; and it would ap- 

 pear that by this remedy we can effect a cure with less venesec- 

 tion than is otherwise necessary. Notwithstanding what I said 

 in favour of venesection, I must own that I never saw a cure 

 very quickly expedited by venesection alone, in the cure of any 

 violent case of the disease ; for the disease is liable to linger, 

 and continue for a long time, and to pass into a chronic state. 

 The Dover's Powder gives us an opportunity of more effectually 

 and more safely curing the disease than by bleeding alone. 



We have only to add, that wherever the Dover's Powder is 

 to be employed, the effects and benefits of it will depend very 

 much upon a proper administration, which we have very often 

 observed to be neglected or mistaken ; and therefore we subjoin 

 here what I have learned from much experience to be the most 

 proper management of it. 



The powder is to be given in the morning when the ordi- 

 nary sleep or the time of it is over ; sleeping is not incompatible 

 with, but is commonly not favourable to sweating. 



For security against cold, the patient is to be laid in woollen, 

 that is, in a flannel shirt and in blankets, the bed linen being 

 entirely removed. 



The powder will be taken most properly by being made 

 into a bolus with a little syrup, and swallowed in a wafer, that 

 the taste of it may not occasion any squeamishness. 



The covering of the body may be only what the person 

 has been used to sleep in ; but commonly it will be convenient 

 to make some addition over the whole body, and always some 

 considerable addition upon the feet and legs. 



As the powder is ready to r be thrown up by vomiting, no 

 drink should be taken into the stomach till some sweat breaks 

 out. 



When the sweat begins to break out, the person may then 

 take frequently, but at first in small portions, some warm liquid, 

 such as thin gruel, weak sage, bohea tea ; and of such drinks he 

 should take frequently during the course of the sweating. 



