123 TREATMENT OE INFLAMMATION. 



often, however, that such is the case, for, in most slight 

 local inflammations, we give physic, which is at once intro- 

 ducing general treatment. On most occasions, both general 

 and local treatment are employed, the latter being auxiliary 

 to the former : but now and then it happens that topical 

 .agents become the principal ones. Local remedies are : 

 bleeding from the part, cold and warm applications, and 

 counter-irritants of every description. 



Of bloodletting I have already spoken. Let us therefore 

 proceed to the consideration of 



COLD AND WARM APPLICATIONS. 



Cold seems the natural remedy for disease consisting in 

 a superabundance of heat : at all events it is grateful to the 

 feelings; and on that account does deserve our attention. 

 Any application to an inflamed surface much lower in tem- 

 perature than the part itself, afibrds relief, on the common 

 principle of abstracting heat : in addition, cold has a sedative 

 effect, quieting the action of the vessels, and, at the same 

 time, bracing them or diminishing their canals. This may 

 be carried so far as to suppress the inflammatory action 

 altogether — nay, even to the destruction of the part. In 

 general, cold water, or salt and water, is used for this 

 purpose. We dip a bandage in the liquid, and roll it round 

 the part ; or we lay a piece of linen, folded and wetted, 

 immediately upon the part. We may with advantage further 

 reduce the temperature of the water by ice ; or we can even 

 apply ice itself — powdering it first, and confining it by means 

 of a bladder. 



GouLARD^s Lotion is frequently used in place of water : 

 I beheve, however — unless it be in the case of ophthalmia 

 — with no sort of advantage. It may be made with the ex- 

 tract of Goulard, after the following manner : 



FOR A QUART OF GOULARD's LOTION. 



Take of Goulard's Extract, 5j ; 



Distilled Water, Oij. 

 Mix together. 



