CLASS II. 1. 3. 2. OF SENSATION. 191 



quence of the previous torpor of the interior membranes. As 

 this generally attends old age, it becomes more dangerous in pro- 

 portion to the age, and also to the habitual intemperance of the 

 patient in respect to the use of fermented or spirituous liquor. 



When the former kind, or irritated erysipelas, continues long, 

 the patient becomes so weakened as to be liable to all the symp- 

 toms of this inirritated erysipelas; especially where the me- 

 ninges of the brain are primarily affected. As in that case, after 

 two or three efforts have been made to remove the returning 

 periods of torpor of the meninges to the external skin, those 

 meninges become inflamed themselves, and the patient sinks un- 

 der the disease; in a manner similar to that in old gouty patients, 

 where the torpor of the liver or stomach is relieved by associa- 

 tion of the inflammation of the membranes of the feet, and then 

 of other joints, and lastly the power of association ceasing to act, 

 but the excess of sensation continuing, the liver or stomach re- 

 mains torpid, or becomes itself inflamed, and the patient is de- 

 stroyed. 



M. M. Where there exists a beginning gangrene of the ex- 

 tremities, the Peruvian bark, and wine, and opium, are to be 

 given in large quantities; so as to strengthen the patient, but 

 not to intoxicate, or to impede his digestion of aliment, as men- 

 tioned in the first species of this genus. Class II. 1.2. 1. But 

 where the brain is inflamed or oppressed, which is known either 

 by delirium, with quick pulse; or by stupor and slow respira- 

 tion, with slow pulse; other means must be applied. Such as, 

 first, a fomentation on the head with warm water, with or with- 

 out aromatic herbs, or salt in it, should be continued for an hour 

 or two at a time, and frequently repeated. A blister may also 

 be applied on the head, and the fomentation nevertheless occa- 

 sionally repeated. Internally very gentle stimulants, as camphor 

 one grain or two in infusion of valerian. Wine and water, or 

 small beer, weak broth. An enema. Six grains of rhubarb and 

 one of calomel. Afterwards five drops of tincture of opium, 

 which may be repeated every six hours, if it seems of service. 

 Might the head be bathed for a minute with cold water? or with 

 ether? or vinegar? 



Erysipelas sensitivum is a third species, differing only in the kind 

 of fever which attends it, which is simply inflammatory, or sen- 

 sitive, without either excess of irritation, as in the first variety; 

 or the defect of irritation, as in the second variety; all these 

 kinds of erysipelas are liable to return by periods in some people, 

 who have passed the middle of life, as at periods of a lunation, 

 or two lunations, or at the equinoxes. W T hen these periods of 

 erysipelas happen to women, they seem to supply the place of 



