138 AMEIfDMEiN^T OF PATIEK"T. 



possible will reward liis perseverance. In chronic diseases 

 a beneficial result can seldom be observed for several 

 days, or even longer ; while in acute diseases, as in inflam- 

 mation of the bowels, relief is sometimes speedily obtained. 

 Where, however, a beneficial result is not obtained in 

 acute and sub-acute maladies in the course of six or eight 

 hours, the symptoms must again be carefully gone over, and 

 a new remedy selected, which must be given either alone or 

 in alternation with the old one, and its use steadily perse- 

 vered in. 



IV. — Amendment op Patient — If a remedy be ad- 

 ministered to a diseased patient, and amendment follows, 

 which is sudden, or slow, as the case may be, but nevertheless 

 well marked, either give the remedy less frequently or in less 

 quantity, or do both : which of the three courses to adopt 

 will depend upon the judicious management of the attendant. 

 It not unfrequently happens, however, that the following 

 will take place : — The patient wiU improve to a certain 

 degree, when the improvement will stop. In all such cases 

 the patient must again be examined with every care, and 

 another and more appropriate remedy selected. 



V.^ — Eepetition oe Medicines. — The repetition of 

 medicines will depend upon a variety of circumstances, 

 respecting which no definite rule can be laid down. In very 

 acute cases it may be necessary to repeat the medicine every 

 ten or fifteen minutes ; in sub-acute diseases every hour, or 

 every four hours, or every twelve hours, as the case may be ; 

 while in chronic diseases an interval of twenty-four hours 

 may be allowed to elapse between its repetition. This, like 

 many other things of a similar nature, ^^dU depend upon the 



