ART. II. 2. a. i. INCITANTIA. 25 



are generally termed fcrofulous or fcorbutic, and are much eafier 

 inclined to heal, when covered with feveral folds of flannel. 



Mr. had for many months been affiicled with an ulcer 



in perinaeo, which communicated with the urethra, through 

 which a part of his urine was daily evacuated with confiderable 

 pain ; and was reduced to a great degree of debility. He ufed 

 a hot-bath of 96 or 98 degrees of heat every day for half an 

 hour during about fix months. By this agreeable ftimulus re- 

 peated thus at uniform times not only the ulcer healed, contra- 

 ry to the expectation of his friends, but he acquired greater 

 health and ftrength, than he had for fome years previoufly ex- 

 perienced. 



Mrs. was affected with tranfient pains, which were call- 

 ed nervous fpafms, and with great fear of difeafes which (he 

 did not labour under, with cold extremities, and general debil- 

 ity. She ufed a hot-bath every other day of 96 degrees of heat 

 for about four months, and recovered a good (late of health, 

 with greater ftrength and courage, than (he had pofleired for 

 many months before. 



Mr. Z. a gentlemen about 65 years of age, had lived rather 

 intemperately in refpect to vinous potation, and had for many 

 years had annual vifits of the gout, which now became irregu- 

 lar, and he appeared to be lofing his ftrength, and beginning to 

 feel the effects of 'age. He ufed a bath, as hot as was agreea- 

 ble to his fenfations, twice a week for about a year and half, 

 and greatly recovered his health and ftrength with lefs frequent 

 and lefs violent returns of regular gout, and is now near 80 years 

 of age. * 



When Dr. Franklin, the American philofopher, was in En- 

 gland many years ago, I recommended to him the ufe of a 

 warm-bath twice a week to prevent the too fpeedy accefs of old 

 age, which he then thought that he felt the approach of, and I 

 have been informed, that he continued the ufe of it till near his 

 death, which was at an advanced age. 



All thefe patients were advifed not to keep themfelves warm- 

 er than their ufual habits after they came out of the bath, v/heth- 

 .er they went into bed or not ; as the defign was not to promote 

 perfpiration, which weakens all conftitutions, and feldom is of 

 fervice to any. Thus a flannel (hirt, particularly if it be worn 

 in warm weather, occafions weaknefs by ftimulating the (kin by 

 its points into too great a&ion, and producing heat in confe- 

 quence ; and occafions emaciation by increafing the difcharge 

 of perfpirable matter ; and in both thefe refpecls differs from 

 the efiect of warm bathing, which communicates heat to the 



fyftem 



