VOL. XXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 35 



away the ill scent, which was very frequent in the patient's chambers, we 

 smoked the rooms with juniper, vinegar, powders, candles, and especially with 

 gunpowder; but this last must be carefully made use of. I generally had red 

 myrrh and salt-petre boiled in vinegar, and ordered it to be poured on a hot 

 tile, to smoke the room with: and this was done at little expence, and with 

 great benefit. 



Evacuations were likewise by some reckoned among the preservatives. But 

 as that common proverb, vis vi est repel lenda, is not always allowable, but often 

 hurtful and dangerous in the practice of physic; so likewise these violent means 

 occasioned a great deal of harm. A gentle laxative taken once in a fortnight, 

 or three or four weeks, according to the disposition of the body, could not be 

 amiss, but it must be done with great care, and keeping within doors. 



But much more consideration and regard ought to be had in respect to vomit 

 ing and bleeding. If we have regard to the indications, we cannot resolve upon 

 either of these without danger. Bleeding is indeed generally allowed, if the 

 patient is plethoric, and there is blood enough. Sometimes bleeding in the 

 plague has been reckoned a thing indifferent, which could do neither good nor 

 harm; but then the indications were very obscure, or wholly fallacious; yet I 

 think it were better omitted than ordered. The question is not, whether bleed- 

 ing be generally pernicious, but whether it can be allowed to be a preservative 

 in time of a contagion; because, as I have said before, it is absolutely dangerous 

 and pernicious to such as are infected, or disposed to infection. 



As for vomiting, it is not only of less use than bleeding, but much more 

 dangerous. I only speak here of vomits, when the contagion is at the height. 

 For it is observed, that the contagious venom is not to be searched for in the 

 stomach; because it finds other ways, through which it may insinuate itself into 

 the body. And though some persons should receive some of this venom with 

 their aliment into their stomach; yet by reason of its subtilty, it does not long 

 stay there, but presently seizes and attacks some more noble part. From 

 whence it may be concluded, that evacuations without great necessity are abso- 

 lutely useless. It is the judgment of the most learned and experienced practi- 

 tioners, that vomits in their nature and power differ little from ordinary poison. 

 How is it then possible that one poison should qualify the other? If they be 

 considered as auxiliary remedies, let them be administered with the greatest 

 caution, especially at a tin^e when they choak and kill so many symptomatically, 

 If an argument a posteriori may be allowed conclusive, then, as we said before 

 of bleeding, we may also of vomits, that they prognosticate an unhappy event 

 to the disease, and that they have not the least use in preserving from conta- 

 gion. It happens sometimes that a man overcharges and distends himself with 



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