ERUPTIVE FEVEItS. 165 



ty. In the same case, the free use of acids and of nitre is use- 

 ful ; and it is commonly proper also to give wine very freely. 



" From an opinion of the bark being favourable to suppura- 

 tion, it has been employed even during the eruptive fever; 

 but I have hardly ever observed a case in which it seemed pro- 

 per. Allowing the bark, in certain circumstances, to be favour- 

 able to suppuration, it does not appear clearly that these cir- 

 cumstances ever occur during the eruptive fever. It is possible 

 that the eruptive fever of the smallpox may be of the putrid 

 kind, in which therefore the bark might be allowable ; but I 

 have hardly ever been able to ascertain such a case ; and upon 

 the supposition of its being the case, I have found the exhibi- 

 tion of the bark to be hurtful. In my opinion, it is only after 

 the eruption, that, by the confluence of the pustules and other 

 circum stances, we can discern the putrid diathesis which requires 

 the bark ; and when none of these circumstances are present, 

 as in most cases of distinct smallpox, though these be very nu- 

 merous, the bark in large quantity is very hurtful. M.M. 



DCXXIV. From the fifth day of the disease, onward 

 through the whole course of it, it is proper to give an opiate 

 once or twice a-day ; taking care, at the same time, to obviate 

 costiveness, by purgatives or laxative glysters, 



" In the inflammatory state of the eruptive fever I have al- 

 ways found opium hurtful ; but as soon as the disease has taken 

 a determination to suppuration, I have always found it em- 

 ployed with advantage. In confluent smallpox, which is always 

 attended with a low and putrid fever, I hold opium to be one 

 of the most effectual means of supporting the vigour of the 

 system, and of producing as much of a kindly suppuration 

 as the nature of the disease will admit of. In short, I hold 

 opium to be a very useful medicine in various circumstances 

 of the smallpox. M. M. 



DC XXV. In a violent disease, from the eighth to the 

 eleventh day, it is proper to lay on blisters successively on dif- 

 ferent parts of the body, and that without regard to the parts 

 being covered with pustules. 



DCXXVI. If, in this disease, the tumour of the fauces be 

 considerable ; the deglutition difficult ; the saliva and mucus 

 viscid, and with difficulty thrown out ; it will be proper to ap- 



