TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 1093 



strong, Parry, Scudamore, and others, from the 

 application of cold water, and exposure to cold 

 air, in cases of gout, rheumatism, and erysipelas, 

 which are also produced by whatever greatly 

 weakens the general powers of life in the more 

 important organs. 



I have already observed in a preceding chapter* 

 that during the retreat from Moscow, the symp- 

 toms of approaching death among the French 

 soldiers, from the united influence of cold, want 

 of nourishment, and mental dejection, were dimi- 

 nished power of the heart, slow and imperfect 

 respiration, a pale or purple hue of the surface, 

 shrinking of the extremities, (in which, if inflam- 

 mation had then existed, it would have disap- 

 appeared,) loss of sensibility, coma, confusion of 

 mind, delirium, spasms, hemorrhage from the 

 nose, mouth, and ears, mortification of the ex- 

 tremities, universal coldness and torpor: that 

 most of those who survived the march were 

 attacked with rheumatism, inflammation of the 

 lungs, pleura, or throat, low fevers, deafness, im- 

 paired vision, neuralgia, paralysis, diarrhaea, &c. 



In regard to the treatment of inflammation, 

 the general indication is to remove the proximate 

 cause, by increasing the circulation through the 

 capillaries of the affected part, and thus promote 

 resolution, before effusion, suppuration, ulceration, 

 or mortification come on. 



In accordance with the fact which has been 



