CLASS II. i. 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 

 proportion to the age, and alto to the habitual intemperance of 

 the patient in refpecl: to the ufe of fermented or fpirituous liquor. 



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

 the patient becomes fo weakened as to be liable to all the fymp- 

 toms of this inirritated eryfipelas; efpecially where the menin- 

 ges of the brain are primarily affected. As in that cafe, after 

 two or three efforts have been made to remove the returning 

 periods of torpor of the meninges to the external {kin, thofe 

 meninges become inflamed themfelves, and the patient finks un- 

 der the difeafe ; in a manner (imilar to that in old gouty patients, 

 where the torpor of the liver or ftomach is relieved by afTocJa- 

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

 of other joints, and laftly the power of aflbciation ceafing to a6t, 

 but the excefs of fenfation continuing, the liver or ftomach re- 

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

 ftroyed. 



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

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

 given in large quantities *, fo as to ftrengthen the patient, but 

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

 tioned in the firft fpecies of this genus. Clafs II, i. 2. I. But 

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

 by delirium, with quick pulfe ; or by ftupor, and flow refpira- 

 tion with flow pulfe ; other means muft be applied. Such as, 

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

 out aromatic herbs, or fait in it, mould be continued for an hour 

 or two at a time, and frequently repeated. A blifter may alfo 

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

 fionally repeated. Internally very gentle ftimulants, as camphor 

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

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

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

 which may be repeated every fix hours, if it feems of fervice. 

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

 with ether ? or vinegar ? 



Eryfipelas fenfttivitm is a third fpecies, differing only in the kind 

 of fever which attends it, which is fimply inflammatory, or fen- 

 fitive, without either excefs of irritation, as in the firft variety ; 

 or the defect of irritation, as in the fecond variety : all thefe 

 kinds of eryfipelas are liable to return by periods in fome people, 

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

 or two lunations, or at the equinoxes. When thefe periods of 

 eryfipelas happen to women, they feem to fupply the phce of 



the 



