410 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



but that fomentations of the feet and legs, as we now usually 

 apply them in fevers, might, without much stirring of the pa- 

 tient, be very assiduously employed with advantage. 



MCCLXXVI. Unctuous applications were very frequently 

 employed in this disease by the ancients ; and some modern 

 practitioners have considered them as very useful. Their ef- 

 fects, however, have not appeared to be considerable ; and, as a 

 weak auxiliary only, attended with some inconvenience, they 

 have been very much neglected by the British practitioners. 



MCCLXXVII. Bleeding has been formerly employed in 

 this disease ; but, of late, it has been found prejudicial, except- 

 ing in a few cases, where, in plethoric habits, a fever has super- 

 vened. In general, the state of men's bodies in warm climates 

 is unfavourable to blood-letting. And, if we may form indica- 

 tions from the state of the blood drawn out of the veins, 

 the state of this in tetanic diseases would forbid bleeding in 

 them. 



MCCLXXVIII. Blistering also has been formerly employ- 

 ed in this disease ; but several practitioners assert, that blisters 

 are constantly hurtful, and they are now generally omitted. 



MCCLXXIX. These are the practices that hitherto have 

 been generally employed ; but, of late, we are informed by se- 

 veral West India practitioners, that, in many instances, they 

 have employed mercury with great advantage. We are told 

 that it must be employed early in the disease ; that it is most 

 conveniently administered by unction, and should be applied in 

 that way in large quantities, so that the body may be soon fill- 

 ed with it, and a salivation raised, which is to be continued till 

 the symptoms yield. Whether this method alone be generally 

 sufficient for the cure of the disease, or if it may be assisted by 

 the use of opium, and require this in a certain measure to be 

 joined with it, I have not yet certainly learned. 



MCCLXXX. I have been further informed, that the te- 

 tanus, in all its different degrees, has been cured by giving in- 

 ternally the Pisselaeum Barbadense, or, as it is vulgarly called, 

 the Barbadoes Tar. I think it proper to take notice of this 

 here, although I am not exactly informed what quantities of this 

 medicine are to be given, or in what circumstances of the dis- 

 ease it is most properly to be employed. 



