34 : The Natural Hiftory of the Book If. 
From this feeming Digreffion, let usreturn to obferve, that the Dry nt = 
ach (fo called from its affe@ting that Part of the Body with great Coltive- 
- nefs and Pain) was formerly much more frequent and fatal, than it hath 
been of late. Diftillers of Rum, and Boilers of Sugar, and Overleers, 
were chiefly fubje@ to it; the firft (who are generally of the poorer 
Sort), from immoderately drinking new hot Rum ;_ the fecond and third, 
from taking Cold, after fweating in hot Boiling-houfes, and drinking very 
{trong Punch, or almoft as ftrong (2) Cowow, or (3) Mobby. 
This Diftemper is likewife faid to arife from Grief and Trouble of 
Mind ; and fometimes it hath been thought to be epidemical. 4 
| The Belly- After it hath for fome Days affli@ed the Patient with intolerable Pains 
Symptoms. in the Belly, Coftivenefs, with voiding little Urine, and that like Mum, 
the Breath ftinking very offenfively, the Pains are frequently tranflated to 
the Limbs, attended fometimes with an intolerable Pricking and Burning 
in the Feet ; at other times, great Pains in the Stomach arife ; and then the 
Patient hath Epileptic Fits, which often relieve the Pains, but weaken 
and impair the Ufe of the Limbs. 
When the Difeafe becomes inveterate, the Patients grow hoarfe, and _ 
lofe their Voice, coveting Anodynes, and ftrong Drink, to that Degree, 
that the common Rum is much too weak; and they drink even Hungary 
Water, or put red Pepper into Rum, to augment its Heat. When they 
lofe the Ufe of their Limbs, they commonly have profufe Sweats, 
Meme: The Method of Cure formerly was to purge the Patients both with 
Cure. Cathartics and Clyfters: From this Praétice the unhappy Creatures were 
fubjeét to lofe the Ufe of their Limbs. won age aba aa 
However, this»prevailed until about the Year 1¥00. or fomewhat be- 
~ fore, when the Phyficians kegan to make ufe of Anodynes with better 
Succefs; which hath been their Way of proceeding ever fince. 
The prefent Their prefent Method of Cure is univerfally followed, being both fafe 
Gare: and eafy, and the Patients run no Danger of either Life or Limbs eFor,: - 
as foon as Dr. Warren found, that it was a convulfive. Gonfiridion. 
chiefly in the Ilion, he judged that Purges and fharp Clyfters Rit 
be attended with bad Succefs, and Emeties, at leaft, ufelefs, if not 
De ars hurtful ; from whence he concluded, that Anodynes mixed sich Anti- 
thod of  hyfterics would be the likelieft Means of Relief : He therefore purfued 
ce that Method, as neceflary to be followed, for a few Days Fi th 
Pains of the Belly intirely ceafed for the Space of Tilly iu H ; 
Then he concluded, that the {pafmodic Conftri@ions were over; at soft 
time he ordered fome emollient Clyfter, and then gave a entle P “ 
of fome of the bitter Pills, which generally perfected the Gavia bhi 
Ape pnodine i a few Nights fucceflively afterwards, oy aga 
The bitter Pills are thought propereft, becaufe the Bile in this Dj 
per fhews itfelf to be deficient in its due Secretion, or its a came 
There 
(2) A Drink made with the Scummings of the boiled i i i 
dan alent, mg oiled CaneJuice, mixed with Water, and fermented ; and 
(3) Mobby is a Drink made with pounded Potatoes, and Water fermented with Sugar or M. Late 
olaffes, 
