102 DISEASES OF THE HOUSE. 



is to lessen the action of the heart, and others are given to have 

 a direct effect in lowering the heart's action,* 



It is desirable to keep up the circulation in the extremities 

 and the surface of the body by clothing and bandaging, as \vc 

 thereby draw to the surface a portion of the blood which has a 

 tendency to concentrate within. This principle is still further 

 carried out by counter-irritation — by creating artificially an in- 

 flannnation, and, consequently, a determination of blood to an 

 external part. 



These are the leading principles by which we are to treat in- 

 ternal inflammations, regulated, of course, by the peculiar fea- 

 tures of each individual case. 



In external mjlammations we have a greater number of means 

 for our employment ; for instance, local bleeding, warm and cold 

 fomentation, besides external stimulants. The benefit to be ob- 

 tained from the first mentioned is very considerable; we thereby 

 abstract blood either from the inflamed part itself, or its imme- 

 diate vicinity, and thus deprive it of the very food whereby 

 inflauuuation is kept up. Where, however, the case is severe, 

 as in fever in the feet, or the part of much importance, as in 

 ophthalmia, local venesection will have much greater effect if 

 j)receded or assisted by general bleeding. 



Warm fomentations are of much importance in the early stages 

 of local inflammation ; they act b}' relieving the inflamed vessels 

 by means of perspiration, or the escape of fluid externally 

 through the pores of the skin. 



The human surgeon has a great advantage over us, in being 

 enabled to determine blood to the skin by means of the warm 

 bath, which is of great utility in many internal inflammatory 

 diseases. But, from the large size of our patients, and their 

 being covered with hair, it is next to impossible to make use of 

 it : the warm vapour bath has, however, been used with benefit, 

 although attended with much trouble and inconvenience. In 

 inflammatory affections of the bowels, we may employ a local 

 warm bath with great advantage. 



In employing warm water as a topical remedy, it is necessary 

 to continue its use for a long time ; otherwise the reaction by 

 Avhich it is succeeded will produce more inconvenience than 

 otherwise. Poultices are extremely useful in affording a means 

 of emjjloying fomentations for a long time : it is therefore 

 essential to saturate them frequently with warm water. When 

 inflammation has a tendency to suppuration, the process is 

 greatly assisted by warm applications. 



Cold applications relieve local inflammation, by encouraging 



* The use of calomel and tartarized antimony are of great assistance in 

 reducing inflammatory action. — Eb, 



