COLD AND WARM APPLICATIONS. 123 



Evaporating Lotions are a convenient, and, perhaps, 

 the most effectual means of producing cold. Vinegar and 

 water, in the proportion of one part to three ; or spirits of 

 wine and water, in the same proportions, will answer this 

 purpose very well. Sometimes we add three or four ounces 

 of spirits of wine to the quart of Goulard^s lotion, and thus 

 render it evaporating. In eases of sprains, we require dis- 

 cutient applications, and we use the following : 



DISCUTIENT LOTIONS. 



Take of Sal Ammoniac, ^j ; 

 Vinegar, ^iv ; 

 Spirits of Wine, 5iv ; 

 Water, Ojss. 

 Mix together the Sal Ammoniac and the Vinegar, and add the spirits and water. 



Take of The Liquor of Acetated Ammonia, and 



Spirits of Wine, of each Jiv ; 



Water, Oj. 

 Mix together. 



Warm Applications in some cases answer better than 

 cold. Indeed, in the treatment of inflammation we should 

 "blow hot or cokV^ which cannot fail to impress anyone 

 but a medical man with some sort of surprise -} nevertheless, 

 both are excellent for particular cases. The knowledge we 

 gain from experience is, disease is apt to fluctuate with 

 circumstances : it is not always in our power to decide 

 what we should adopt. Cold must be applied upon the 

 inflamed part : whereas heat will often do good, applied at 

 some distance from the aff'ected region. When heat is used 



' A private gentleman came to me, requesting I would look at a horse of his. 

 I found the animal lame from superficial inflammation about the pastern of the 

 near fore leg, evidently caused by external injury. After a time, I discovered 

 that a veterinary surgeon was already in attendance, and the gentleman was very 

 desirous to ground an accusation against him for having used cold applications, 

 especially as Tseemed to confirm his views by recommending warm. I told him 

 that " either warm or cold might answer the purpose;" which, I believe, in his 

 mind, settled the qustion that I knew little about the affair. 



