356 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



degree, they may certainly do much harm ; and in a disease 

 which they do not entirely cure, the mischief arising from them 

 may not be discerned. 



MCLX. Whilst the employment of stimulants is so often an 

 ambiguous practice, we may perhaps go some length towards 

 ascertaining the matter, by considering the nature of the several 

 stimulants which may be employed, and some of the circum- 

 stances of their administration. With this view, therefore, I shall 

 now mention the several stimulants that have been commonly 

 employed, and offer some remarks upon their nature and use. 



MCLXI. They are in the first place to be distinguished as 

 external or internal. " It is doubtful to which of these the pas- 

 sions are to be referred, which have manifest effects in removing 

 this disease. I knew a gentleman affected with palsy, who, when 

 thrown into a passion, could speak pretty distinctly, and even 

 move his paralytic limbs> neither of which he could do at any 

 other time. But this stimulus we have not in our power to apply 

 in practice, both because it is difficult to follow the proper manner 

 of exciting it, and because, if I may use the expression, we 

 cannot ascertain the dose : and contrary to the above-mentioned 

 case, I have known paralytic patients that commonly spoke pretty 

 clearly, by being excited to certain passions, deprived entirely 

 of the use of speech.' 1 Of the first kind, we again distinguish 

 them as they are applied to particular parts of the body only, or 

 as they are more generally applied to the whole system. Of the 

 first kind are, 



1. The concentrated acids of vitriol or nitre; involved, how- 

 ever, in oily or unctuous substances, which may obviate their 

 corrosive, without destroying their stimulant power. 



2. The volatile alkaline spirits, especially in their caustic state; 

 but involved also in oils for the purpose just now mentioned. 



3. The same volatile spirits are frequently employed by being 

 held to the nose, when they prove a powerful stimulus to the 

 nervous system ; but it is at the same time probable, that they 

 may also prove a strong stimulant to the blood-vessels of the 

 brain. 



4. A brine, or strong solution of sea-salt. 



5. The essential oils of aromatic plants, or of their parts, 



