INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 167 



ject now under consideration. The case must not be 

 played with. The secretion of the urine is one that 

 cannot be suspended a little while without manifest 

 danger or certain death. The patient must be bled 

 until evident relief is afforded. 



To this must succeed physic ; but it must be physic 

 which will not irritate the neighbouring parts. Aloes, 

 because this drug contains resin, ought not to be 

 given, and even the solution of this drug is not quite 

 safe. A pint of linseed oil, in which are mixed ten 

 drops of croton oil, guarded with half a drachm of 

 chloroform, may be administered ; and half the dose 

 repeated every eight hours until purging is produced. 

 Plentiful injections of warm soap and water should 

 be thrown up ; for they will answer a double purpose ; 

 — they will assist the physic, and act as useful fomen- 

 tations in the immediate neighbourhood of the inflamed 

 part. 



To these, as in other cases, will succeed counter- 

 irritation. The part should be frequently fomented 

 with hot water, or, what is far better, the hair of the 

 loins should be made wet with the tincture of croton 

 and immediately covered over with a fresh sheep-skin. 

 The majority of the blisters, in common use, have a 

 diuretic as well as a vesicatory effect ; therefore these 

 must not be resorted to. Turpentine and cantharides 

 must be avoided as pregnant with mischief. The 

 .mustard poultice, when properly made, will be very 

 effectual ; and it has no stimulating effect on the 

 urinary organs. It will also be assisted if a sheep- 

 skin is also placed upon the loins. 



While the inflammation is high, little food, and that 



