IMPETIGINES. 637 



matter is liable to be rendered more acrid by communication 

 with the air, and to become more eroding and spreading than 

 when in its enclosed state. 



MDCCLVIII. The management of scrofulous ulcers has, 

 so far as I know, been as little successful as that of the tumours. 

 Escharotic preparations, of either mercury or copper, have been 

 sometimes useful in bringing on a proper suppuration, and 

 thereby disposing the ulcer to heal ; but they have seldom suc- 

 ceeded, and more commonly they have caused the ulcer to 

 spread more. The escharotic, from which I have received most 

 benefit, is burnt alum ; and a portion of that, mixed with a mild 

 ointment, has been as useful an application as any I have tried. 

 The application, however, that I have found most serviceable 

 and very universally admissible, is that of linen cloths wetted 

 with cold water, and frequently changed when they are becom- 

 ing dry, it being inconvenient to let them be glued to the sore. 

 They are therefore to be changed frequently during the day ; 

 and a cloth spread with a mild ointment or plaster may be ap- 

 plied for the night. In this practice I have sometimes employ-^ 

 ed sea-water, but generally it proved too irritating ; and neither 

 that nor any mineral water has appeared to be of more service 

 than common water. 



MDCCLIX. To conclude what I have to offer upon the cure 

 of scrofula, I must observe, that cold bathing seems to have 

 been of more benefit than any other remedy that I have had oc- 

 casion to see employed. 



CHAP. II. OF SYPHILIS, OR THE VENEREAL 

 DISEASE. 



MDCCLX. After practitioners have had so much experience 

 in treating this disease, and after so many books have been pub- 

 lished upon the subject, it does not seem necessary, or even proper 

 for me to attempt any full treatise concerning it ; and I shall 

 therefore confine myself to such general remarks as may serve 

 to illustrate some parts of the pathology or of the practice. 



MDCCLXI. It is sufficiently probable, that anciently, in 



