SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 455 



the lighter kinds, and in moderate quantity. The use of vege- 

 tables which readily prove flatulent, is always very hurtful. In 

 recent asthma, and especially in the young and plethoric, a 

 spare, light, and cool diet is proper, and commonly necessary ; 

 but, after the disease has continued for years, asthmatics com- 

 monly bear, and even require, a tolerably full diet, though in all 

 cases a very full diet is very hurtful. 



MCCCC. In drinking, water, or cool watery liquors, is the 

 only safe and fit drink for asthmatics ; and all liquors ready to 

 ferment and become flatulent, are hurtful to them. Few asth- 

 matics can bear any kind of strong drink ; and any excess in 

 such is always very hurtful to them. As asthmatics are com- 

 monly hurt by taking warm or tepid drink ; so, both upon that 

 account, and upon account of the liquors weakening the nerves 

 of the stomach, neither tea nor coffee is proper in this disease. 



MCCCCI. Asthmatics commonly bear no bodily motion easi- 

 ly but that of the most gentle kind. Riding, however, on horse- 

 back, or going in a carriage, and especially sailing, are very 

 often useful to asthmatics. 



CHAP. VII. OP THE CHINCOUGH OR HOOPING- 

 COUGH. 



MCCCC II. This disease is commonly epidemic, and mani- 

 festly contagious. It seems to proceed from a contagion of a 

 specific nature, and of a singular quality. It does not, like 

 most other contagions, necessarily produce a fever; nor does it, 

 like most others, occasion any eruption, or produce otherwise 

 any evident change in the state of the human fluids. It has, in 

 common with the catarrhal contagion, and with that of the 

 measles, a peculiar determination to the lungs ; but with partic- 

 ular effects there, very different from those of the other two ; 

 as will appear from the history of this disease now to be de- 

 livered. 



MCCCCIII. This contagion, like several others, affects per- 

 sons but once in the course of their lives ; and, therefore, ne- 

 cessarily, children are most commonly the subjects of this dis- 



