112 PLEURISY. 



dened as in the forementioned disease : sometimes 

 during pleurisy it is scarcely changed until the lungs 

 begin to be generally affected. 



In pneumonia one foot may be cold, and the rest of 

 the natural temperature ; in pleurisy two or three may 

 be cold, and, where coldness is not felt, a more than 

 ordinary heat may be detected : and the pulse, which 

 in pneumonia was oppressed, and often scarcely 

 quickened, is here both hard and rapid. It is of 

 importance to attend to these distinctions ; because 

 the treatment of the two diseases is somewhat dif- 

 ferent, and in their terminations they are altogether 

 distinct. 



In its main features, the treatment of pleurisy may 

 resemble that of pneumonia. Bleeding will be the 

 first step, and blood will have to be taken until the 

 system responds, or until the characteristic harshness 

 has quitted the pulse. 



Bleeding will be followed by the use of sedative 

 medicines; which should be perseveringly administered. 

 Aconite root, in doses of half a drachm, every hour 

 until the pulse is softened, and twice a day subse- 

 quently, should be immediately administered. Counter- 

 irritation will be indicated ; but the reader must not 

 forget the remarks which were made when treating of 

 pneumonia. In pleurisy the sides must not be 

 blistered ; for the disease being near to the surface, 

 the irritation would be more likely to increase than 

 to divert the inflammation which it is the object to 

 remove. The surface of the body however is large 

 enough. It presents plenty of choice as to the situa- 

 tion of a blister ; for that part of the frame which is 



