138 AMENDMENT OF PATIENT. 



possible wiLl reward his perseverance. In chronic diseases a 

 beneficial result can seldom be observed for several days or 

 even longer ; while, in acute diseases, as in inflammation of 

 the bowels, relief is sometimes speedily obtained. Where, 

 however, a beneficial result is not obtained in acute and sub- 

 acute maladies in the course of six or eight hours, the symp- 

 toms should again be carefully gone over, and a new remedy 

 selected ; which should be given either alone or in alternation 

 with the old one, and its use steadily persevered in. Attention 

 and perseverance are the great essentials to success. 



lY. — Amendment gp Patient. — If a remedy be admini- 

 stered to a diseased patient, and amendment follows, which 

 is sudden or slow, as the case may be, but nevertheless well 

 marked, either give the remedy less frequently or in a less 

 quantity, or do both, — the adoption of which of the three 

 courses will depend upon the judicious management of the 

 attendant. It not unfrequently happens, however, that the 

 foUowing wiU. take place : — The patient wiU improve to a 

 certaia degree, when the improvement will stop. In all such 

 cases the patient must be examined with every care, and 

 another and more appropriate remedy selected. 



V. — Eepetition oe Medicines. — The repetition of medi- 

 cines will depend upon a variety of circumstance, respecting 

 which no definite rule can be laid down. In very acute cases 

 it may be necessary to repeat the medicine every ten or fif- 

 teen minutes ; in sub-acute diseases every hour, or every four 

 hours, or every twelve hours, as the case may be ; while in 

 chronic diseases an interval of twenty-four hours may be 

 allowed to elapse between its repetition. This, like many 

 other things of a similar nature, will depend upon the 



