494 Observations on the medical effects 



and this local discharge will be produced by any of the usual 

 exciting causes which accelerate the circulation by which the 

 distressing symptoms will be relieved. The second or dry 

 variety is by far the most distressing, and from the nervous 

 capillaries being more particularly affected, the paroxysms of 

 burning are very severe, and extend in twitches to some dis- 

 tance along the limb. The exposure of the poor to vicissi- 

 tudes of the weather, and the use of a meagre and indiges- 

 tible diet, render them more subject to the disease than 

 others under different circumstances. 



The above remarks on the nature of the disease will enable 

 us to understand why local remedies will not be of more than 

 temporary use, and will explain the method of treatment 

 which should be considered in a two-fold aspect, as palliative 

 and curative. To the first class belong absorbent earths to 

 allay the distressing symptoms, to arrest the perspiration 

 with warm fomentations and anodyne oleaginous frictions, to 

 soften the skin, to promote the circulation, and to allay the 

 pain. The method of exposing the feet and legs to the fumes 

 of milk sprinkled upon the leaves of mudar is often of tem- 

 porary use. This should be repeated daily, when the cure is 

 said to be rapid and complete.* A more effectual means of 

 stopping a paroxysm will be found in arresting the circulation 

 in the limb for a time, which will remove the distention of 

 the capillary vessels ; thus interrupting the habitual course 

 of the disease, and enabling the practitioner to employ medi- 

 cines and diet, so as to obtain a complete cure. This will, in 

 general, be effected by a nourishing and easily digested diet, 

 with stimuli ; and the employment of an alterative course 

 of calomel, which, in many old cases, will require to be carried 

 to gentle ptyalism. In such cases the same nourishing food 

 should be employed with tonics. 



* See Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta, Vol. ii. 

 p. 275. 



