INTUMESCENTI^. 62? 



its efficacy ; but I am very ready to believe the testimony of De 

 Haen upon this subject. 



** In all the instances I have seen, and they are not a few, of 

 the use of the bark in rickets and scrofula, I have never seen 

 clearly any benefit derived from them. M.M. 



MDCCXXXIII. Exercise, which is one of the most power- 

 ful tonics, has been properly recommended for the cure of rick- 

 ets ; and as the exercise of gestation only can be employed, it 

 should always be with the child laid in a horizontal situation ; 

 as the carrying them or moving them in any degree of an erect 

 posture, is very apt to occasion some distortion. It is extremely 

 probable, that, in this disease, friction with dry flannels may be 

 found an useful remedy. 



MDCCXXXIV. It is also sufficiently probable, that the 

 avoiding of moisture is not only advisable, but may likewise be 

 of service in the cure of this disease. 



There is no doubt that a certain diet may contribute to the 

 same end ; but what may be the most eligible, I dare not de- 

 termine. I have no doubt that leavened bread may be more 

 proper than unfermented farinacea ; but I cannot find any reason 

 to believe that strong beer can ever be a proper remedy. 



Practitioners have been divided in opinion concerning the use 

 of milk in this disease. Zeviani, perhaps from theory, con- 

 demns the use of it : but Benevoli employed it without its imped- 

 ing the cure of the disease. This last I have often remarked 

 in the course of my own practice. As it is difficult to feed child- 

 ren entirely without milk, so I have commonly admitted it as a 

 part of the diet of rickety children ; and in many instances I can 

 affirm, that it did not prevent the cure of the disease. In cases, 

 however, of any appearance of rickets, and particularly of a slow 

 dentition, I have dissuaded the continuance of a child upon the 

 breast ; because the milk of women is a more watery nourish- 

 ment than that of cows ; and I have especially dissuaded the 

 continuing a child upon the breast, when I thought the nurse 

 gave rather too much of such a watery nourishment ; for, as has 

 been above mentioned, I have had frequent occasion to suspect 

 that the milk of such nurses has a tendency to favour the com- 

 ing on of rickets. 



MDCCXXXV. Besides the remedies and regimen now 



