520 



tneir action ou a tissue of weakened vitality. Setons are dangerous 

 from the great tendency in this disease to septic complications. 

 Repeated friction of the legs l3y hand-rubbing and warmth by band- 

 aging and by rubbing the surface of the body with turpentine and 

 alcohol, which is immediately to be dried by rough towels, will excite 

 the circulation and stimulate the emunctories of the skin. 



Stimulants are given internally from the outset of the disease. Tur- 

 pentine in dram doses regulates the heart and excites the kidneys to 

 carry off waste matter, but if repeated too frequently may disturb the 

 already delicate digestive system. Alcohol rectifies the latter danger, 

 and is a useful stimulant to the heart and digestive system, if given 

 with care in small doses. It must be remembered that this remedy is 

 not a food. It is a hydrocarbon which is not burnt, but is eliminated 

 in the urine and in the expired air. If given in too large quantities it 

 becomes a depressant, and lowers the vitality of all of the tissues of 

 the body, as can too frequently be seen in the mental and physical 

 condition of the drunkard. It is an antiputrid, and is especially indi- 

 cated when septic complications and gangrene are present. The 

 aromatics and bitter tonics are useful ; gentian, tannin, and English 

 breakfast tea in warm decoction form a useful menstruum for other 

 remedies. The various preparations of iron are astringents and excit- 

 ants to the digestive system. Carbolic acid is an antiputrid, which is 

 of marked benefit in oedematous pneumonia; it should be given in 

 small doses diluted in alcohol. 



Salicylic acid may be given in 1 or 2 dram doses every few hours. 

 It is a specific for troubles of the serous membranes, lowers the tem- 

 perature, and is of value in this disease in preventing the exudation 

 into the tissue of the lungs. The alkalies, as the sulphate and bicar- 

 bonate of soda, the nitrate of potash, and very small doses of the iodide 

 of potash, should be employed to regulate the digestive tract, the kid- 

 neys, and the other excreting glands, and to stimulate absorption of 

 the waste matter. 



The diet demands the strictest attention from the outset. In many 

 of the fevers the food has to be diminished in quantity and regulated 

 in the quality of its heat-producing components during the acute part 

 of the disease, so as to lessen the material for combustion in the in- 

 flamed organs. In oedematous pneumonia, on the contrary, all the 

 food that can possibly be digested and assimilated must be given. 

 Choice must be made of the richest material which can be handled by 

 the weakened stomach and intestines without fatiguing them. Good, 

 sound hay should be chopped short and dampened or partly boiled; 

 in the latter case the hay tea can be reserved to use as a drink. Oats 

 may be preferred dry or in other cases will be taken better scalded; 

 in most cases, however, it is better to give slops of oatmeal, to which 

 can be added a little bran, barley flour, or boiled milk and wheat 

 flour. Ture cow's milk, not too rich in fatty matter, can be given 



