AND HIS DISEASES. 7 



pulse, rather than by the quantity withdrawn. It is only in 

 the earlie r stages that this operation is warranted.: it should 

 never be resorted to in any c ase showing; a tendency to we ak- 



ness. ^ 



/VPurgatiyes are yery beneficial, and must be given early. 

 They preve nt constipation, a ' symptom very frequently 

 attend ant on inflammation, besides emptying the system o f 

 noxious matters, stimulating the sluggis h secretions, and 

 draining off impurities from the blood. 



Sedatives are invaluable m extensive inflammations, by 

 subduing the action of the heart . They lessen the fever, 

 and keep d own constitutional excitemen t. They hs,ve the 

 advantage over blood-I ettiug as atitiphlogistics, inasmuch as 

 they can be kept up much longer, and do not reduce the 

 strength unduly, to harbour which we cannot be too car eful. 

 Memipg's tinctu re of aconite, op ium^^calomel. digitalis, and 

 belladonna, are the princi pal sedatives use d^ 

 )^ Diuretics reduce fever by evacuating the system of fluids 

 and by stimulating the secretions in the kidneys and skin. 

 Small and repeated doses of nitrate of potash, (saltpetre .') 

 b itartrate of potash, sweet spirits of nitre, dilute acids. &c. . 

 by their cooling action, and by favouring absorption, tend 

 gr eatly to reduce fever and relieve inflamed parts. 



Nothing tends more to success in the treatment of in- 

 flammation thanattenti£n_to__diet_j|i^^ The 

 comfort of the patient must be attended to ; he should have 

 a cool roomy loose-box ; and laxative, easily-digested food, 

 such as green food, bran mashes, &c., should be given, so as 

 to keep the bowels open. 



