1094 THOMSON AND MACARTNEY. 



fully established in the foregoing parts of this 

 work, that caloric is the cause of vital force by 

 which blood is conveyed through every part of 

 the body, it has been found to be by far the most 

 important of all remedies in diminishing and 

 preventing inflammation. Dr. John Thomson 

 declares, that " in all inflammations of the abdo- 

 minal viscera, there are no means of cure, (blood 

 letting excepted,) which afford such sudden and 

 permanent relief as may be obtained from hot 

 fomentations and warm bathing : that in cases 

 of suppuration, they shorten the process, and in 

 all cases of severe pain afford singular relief : 

 that it seems doubtful whether fomentations and 

 poultices have any power independently of their 

 temperature" And he very properly recommends 

 that the latter should not only be removed every 

 few hours, but covered with several folds of flannel 

 for retaining the warmth. Yet he adds, that the 

 manner in which they act is unknown. (Lectures 

 on Inflammation, pp. 173. 188. 332.) 



We are also informed by Dr. Macartney, in a 

 recent work on the same subject, that in sprains, 

 lacerations, punctures, gun-shot wounds, contu- 

 sions, fractures near joints, and all violent injuries 

 attended with a shock to the nervous system, there 

 is nothing so soothing and stimulating to the 

 patient as the influence of steam, (at a high but 

 comfortable temperature,) which removes all pain 

 and consciousness of injury in a very short time ; 



