636 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



Of late, the Peruvian bark has been much recommended : 

 and as in scrofulous persons there are generally some marks of 

 laxity and flaccidity, this tonic may possibly be of service ; but 

 in a great variety of trials, I have never seen it produce any 

 immediate cure of the disease. 



In several instances, the leaves of coltsfoot have appeared to 

 me to be successful. I have used it frequently in a strong de- 

 coction, and even then with advantage ; but have found more 

 benefit from the expressed juice, when the plant could be had 

 in somewhat of a succulent state, soon after its first appearance 

 in the spring. 



MDCCLVI. I have also frequently employed the hemlock, 

 and have sometimes found it useful in discussing obstinate swell- 

 ings : but in this, it has also often disappointed me ; and I have 

 not at any time observed that it disposed scrofulous ulcers to 

 heal. 



I cannot conclude the subject of internal medicines without 

 remarking, that I have never found either mercury or antimony, 

 in any shape, of use in this disease ; and when any degree of a 

 feverish state had come on, the use of mercury proved manifest- 

 ly hurtful, 



MDCCLVII. In the progress of scrofula, several external 

 medicines are requisite. Several applications have been used for 

 discussing the tumours upon their first coming on ; but hither- 

 to my own practice, in these respects, has been attended with 

 very little success. The solution of Saccharum saturni has 

 seemed to be useful ; but it has more frequently failed : and I 

 have had no better success with the spiritus Mindereri. Fomen- 

 tations of every kind have been frequently found to do harm ; 

 and poultices seem only to hurry on a suppuration. I am doubt- 

 ful if this last be ever practised with advantage ; for scrofulous 

 tumours sometimes spontaneously disappear, but never after any 

 degree of inflammation has come upon them ; and therefore poul- 

 tices, which commonly induce inflammation, prevent that dis- 

 cussion of tumours, which might otherwise have happened. 



Even when scrofulous tumours have advanced towards sup- 

 puration, I am unwilling to hasten the spontaneous opening, or 

 to make it by the lancet ; because I apprehend the scrofulous 



