648 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



general rules given' above, they will seldom fail of obtaining a 

 certain and speedy cure of the disease. 



" Of all the diaphoretics that may be employed to excite the 

 general circulation, I hold the guaiac to be one of the most val- 

 uable, as it affords a matter which passes more readily to the ex- 

 treme vessels, and seems to stimulate the exhalents more in pro- 

 portion than it does the heart and great arteries. By this means 

 it is both a more safe and more effectual sudorific than those 

 which stimulate the latter almost only. It is on this account 

 that it may be justly considered as more effectual than other 

 sudorifics in the cure of the lues venerea ; and it is probably 

 upon the same ground that it has been found so useful in all 

 cases of rheumatism, and perhaps those of gout. M. M. 



CHAP. III. OF SCURVY. 



MDCCLXXXIX. This disease appears so frequently, and 

 the effects of it are so often fatal in fleets and armies, that it has 

 very properly engaged the particular attention of physicians. 

 It is indeed surprising that it had not sooner attracted the 

 special notice both of statesmen and physicians, so as to have 

 produced those measures and regulations that might prevent 

 the havoc which it so often occasions. Within these last 

 fifty years, however, it has been so much attended to and studied, 

 that we might suppose every circumstance relating to it so fully 

 and exactly ascertained, as to render all further labour upon 

 the subject superfluous. This perhaps may be true ; but 

 it appears to me, that there are still several circumstances 

 regarding the disease, not agreed upon among physicians, as well 

 as different opinions formed, some of which may have a bad 

 effect upon the practice ; and this seems to me to be so much 

 the case, that I hope I shall be excused in endeavouring here 

 to state the facts as they appear to me from the best authorities, 

 and to offer remarks upon opinions which may influence the 

 practice in the prevention and cure of this disease. 



MDCCXC. With respect to the phenomena of the disease, 

 they have now been so fully observed, and so accurately de- 



