SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 461 



so that I am doubtful with regard to the use of frequent purging ; 

 and I suspect that, as it is a nervous disease, all strong evacua- 

 tions may do some harm." 



MCCCCXVIII. To obviate or remove the inflammatory de- 

 termination to the lungs that sometimes occurs in this disease, 

 blistering is often useful, and even repeated blistering has been 

 of service ; but issues have not so much effect, and should by 

 no means supersede the repeated blistering that may be indicat- 

 ed. When blisters are proper, they are more effectual when 

 applied to the thorax than when applied to any distant parts. 



MCCCCXIX. Of all other remedies, emetics are the most 

 useful in this disease ; both in general by interrupting the re- 

 turn of spasmodic affections, and in particular by determining 

 very powerfully to the surface of the body, and thereby taking 

 off determinations to the lungs. For these purposes, I think, 

 full vomiting is frequently to be employed ; and, in the inter- 

 vals necessary to be left between the times of full vomiting, 

 nauseating doses of the antimonial emetics may be useful. I 

 have never found the sulphur auratum, so much praised by 

 Clossius, to be a convenient medicine, on account of the uncer- 

 tainty of its dose ; and the tartar emetic employed in the man- 

 ner directed by the late Dr. Fothergill, has appeared to be more 

 useful. 



MCCCCXX. These are the remedies to be employed in the 

 first stage of the disease for obviating its fatal tendency, and 

 putting it into a safe train. But, in the second stage, when I 

 suppose the contagion has ceased to act, and that the disease 

 continues merely by the power of habit, a different indication 

 arises, and different remedies are to be employed. 



MCCCCXXI. This disease, which often continues for a 

 long time, does not, in my opinion, continue during the whole 

 of that time in consequence of the contagion's remaining in the 

 body, and continuing to act in it. That the disease does often 

 continue long after the contagion has ceased to act, and that too 

 by the power of habit alone, appears to me probable from hence, 

 that terror has frequently cured the disease ; that any consider- 

 able change in the state of the system, such as the coming on 

 of the smallpox, has also cured it ; and, lastly, that it has been 

 cured by antispasmodic and tonic medicines ; whilst none of all 



