IMPETIGINES. ()41 



in the cure of gonorrhoea it was the practice to employ purga- 

 tives very frequently, and sometimes those of the drastic kind, 

 I have known the gleet, or spurious gonorrhoea, by such a prac- 

 tice much increased, and long continued, and the patient's con- 

 stitution very much hurt. Nay, in order more certainly further 

 to prevent mistakes, it is to be observed, that the spurious gon- 

 orrhoea is sometimes attended with heat of urine, and some de- 

 gree of inflammation ; but these symptoms are seldom consider- 

 able, and, merely by the assistance of a cool regimen, common- 

 ly disappear in a few days. 



MDCCLXX. With respect to the cure of a virulent gonorr- 

 hoea, I have only to remark, that if it be true, as I have mentioned 

 above, that the disease will often, under a proper regimen, be 

 spontaneously cured ; and that the whole of the virulent matter 

 may be thus entirely discharged without the assistance of art ; 

 it would seem that there is nothing required of practitioners, but 

 to moderate and remove that inflammation which continues the 

 disease, and occasions all the troublesome symptoms that ever 

 attend it. The sole business therefore of our art in the cure of 

 gonorrhoea, is to take off the inflammation accompanying it ; 

 and this I think may commonly be done, by avoiding exercise, 

 by using a low and cool diet, by abstaining entirely from fer- 

 mented and spirituous liquors, and by taking plentifully of mild 

 diluent drinks. 



MDCCLXXI. The heat of urine, which is so troublesome 

 in this disease, as it arises from the increased sensibility of the 

 urethra in its inflamed state ; so, on the other hand, the irrita- 

 tion of the urine has the effect of increasing the inflammation, 

 and is therefore to be removed as soon as possible. This can 

 be done most effectually by taking in a large quantity of mild 

 watery liquors. Demulcents may be employed ; but unless 

 they be accompanied with a large quantity of water, they will 

 have little effect. Nitre has been commonly employed as a sup- 

 posed refrigerant ; but, from much observation, I am convinced 

 that in a small quantity it is useless, and in a large quantity 

 certainly hurtful ; and, for this reason, that every saline matter 

 passing with the urine generally gives some irritation to the 

 urethra. To prevent the irritation of the urethra arising from 

 its increased sensibility, the injection of mucilage or of mild oil 



VOL. ii. 2s 



