CIASS I. 1. 2, 9. OF IRRITATION. 23 



is called a cold, and resembles the catarrh of the preceding arti- 

 cle; with which it is frequently combined. 



M. M. Inhaling the steam of warm water, evacuations, warm 

 bath, afterwards opium, sorbentia. 



9. Exsudatio pone aures. A discharge behind the ears. This 

 chiefly aifects children, and is a morbid secretion; as appears 

 from its fetor; for if it was owing to defect of absorption, it 

 would be saline, and not fetid; if a morbid action has continued 

 a considerable time, it should not be stopped too suddenly; since 

 in that case some other morbid action is liable to succeed in its 

 stead. Thus children are believed to have had colics, or even 

 convulsions, consequent to the too sudden healing of these mor- 

 bid effusions behind their ears. The rationale of this is to be ex- 

 plained from a medical fact, which I have frequently observed; 

 and that is, that a blister on the back greatly strengthens the 

 power of digestion, and removes the heart-burn in adults, and 

 green stools in children. The stimulus of the blister produces 

 sensation in the vessels of the skin; with this additional sensorial 

 power these vessels act more strongly; and with these the ves- 

 sels of the internal membranes of the stomach and bowels act 

 with greater energy from their direct sympathy with them. 

 Now the acrid discharge behind the ears of children produces 

 sensation on that part of the skin, and so far acts as a small blis- 

 ter. When this is suddenly stopped, a debility of the digestive 

 power of the stomach succeeds from the want of this accustomed 

 stimulus, with flatulency, green stools, gripes, and sometimes 

 consequent convulsions. See Class II. 1. 5.6. and II. 1. 4. 6. 



M. M. If the matter be absorbed, and produce swelling of the 

 lymphatics of the neck, it should be cured as soon as possible by 

 dusting the part with white lead, cerussa, in very fine powder; 

 and to prevent any ill consequence an issue should be kept for 

 about a month in the arm; or a purgative medicine should be 

 taken every other day for three or four times, which should con- 

 sist of a grain of calomel, and three or four grains of rhubarb, 

 and as much chalk. If there be no appearance of absorption, 

 it is better only to keep the parts clean by washing them with 

 warm water, morning and evening; or putting fuller's earth on 

 them; especially till the time of toothing is past. The tinea, or 

 scald head, and a leprous eruption, which often appears behind 

 the ears, are different diseases. 



10. Gonorrhea calida. Warm gleet. Increased discharge of 

 mucus from the urethra or prostate gland without venereal de- 

 sire, or venereal infection. See Class I. 2. 3. 8. 



M. M. Cantharides, balsams, rhubarb, blister on perinaeum. 



