DISEASES CLASS II. 1. 6. 16. 



treat in this manner early in the disease, recovered, to the num- 

 ber of 50; and that almost all the rest died. But that when 

 two or three days were elapsed, the patient became too weak 

 for this method; and the matter was already formed, which de- 

 stroyed them. Except that he saw two patients who recovered, 

 after discharging a large quantity of matter at the navel. And 

 a few who were relieved, by the appearance of external erysipe- 

 las on the extremities. 



This disease, consisting of an erysipelatous inflammation, may 

 occasion the great debility sooner to occur than in inflammation 

 of the uterus; which latter is neither erysipelatous, I suppose, 

 nor contagious. And the success of Dr. Gordon's practice 

 seems to correspond with that of Dr. Rush, in the contagious 

 fever or plague at Philadelphia; which appeared to be much as- 

 sisted by early evacuations. One case I saw, some time ago, 

 where violent unceasing pain of the whole abdomen occurred, a 

 few hours after delivery, with quick pulse; which ceased after 

 the patient had twice lost about eight ounces of blood, and had 

 taken a moderate cathartic with calomel. 



This case induces me to think, that it might be safer, and 

 equally efficacious, to take less blood at first than Dr. Gordon 

 mentions, and to repeat the operation in a few hours, if the 

 continuance of the symptoms should require it. And the same 

 in respect to the cathartic, which might perhaps be given in less 

 quantity, and repeated every two or three hours. 



Nor should I wish to give an opiate after the first venesection 

 and cathartic; as I suspect that this might be injurious, except 

 those evacuations had emptied the vessels so much, that the sti- 

 mulus of the opiate should act only by increasing the absorption 

 of the new vessels or fluids produced on the surfaces of the inflam- 

 ed membranes. In other inflammations of the bowels, and 

 in acute rheumatism, I have seen the disease much prolonged, 

 and I believe sometimes rendered fatal, by the too early adminis- 

 tration of opiates, either along with cathartics, or at their inter- 

 vals; while a small dose of opium given after sufficient evacua- 

 tions produces absorption only by its stimulus, and much con- 

 tributes to the cure of the patient. We may have visible testi- 

 mony of this effect of opium, when a solution of it is put into 

 an inflamed eye; if it be thus used previous to sufficient evacua- 

 tion, it increases the inflammation; if it be used after sufficient 

 evacuation, it increases absorption only, and clears the eye in a 

 very small time. 



I cannot omit observing, from considering these circumstances, 

 how unwise is the common practice of giving an opiate to every 



