64 ACCOUNT of a DISTEMPER 



and copioufly employed, than when they were fparingly ufed, 

 or not at all. Thus difappointed by following the only method 

 of cure I had feen, I determined to ftudy the difeafe with at- 

 tention, and endeavour to imitate nature's operations in re- 

 moving it ; and had the fatisfaction to fee all my patients re- 

 cover. As the antiphlogiftic method had not been attended 

 with fuccefs, I avoided bleeding, unlefs it was indicated by an 

 uncommonly hard and full pulfe, attended with great inflam- 

 mation and pain ; and even then I bled but fparingly. Indeed, as 

 highly inflammatory fymptoms but rarely occurred, there was 

 feldom occafion for this evacuation. The bowels were kept 

 open by clyfters ; and fometimes a gentle eccoprotic was necef- 

 fary for this purpofe, but the ftronger cathartics were never 

 ufed. As the difcharge behind the ears, and the fweating from 

 the furface of the tumor, feemed to point out nature's princi- 

 pal refources in terminating this difeafe, thefe were carefully 

 encouraged, by wrapping the parts in flannel ; and, if thefe 

 difcharges happened to flop, or even to leffen, with an increafe 

 of feverifh fymptoms, bliflers were applied behind the ears, 

 fufKciently large to defcend from thence over the whole furface 

 of the tumors, which, by opening a difcharge from the parts 

 immediately affected, imitated, in fome degree, that evacua- 

 tion from them which nature eftablifhes to relieve herfelf ; and 

 by the influence of their irritation, the difeafe feemed to refume 

 afrefh its feat in the falivary glands, when it had in part left 

 them, and taken pofTeflion of the teftes. It was curious to ob- 

 ferve this fact. Sometimes, after the fubuding of the tumid 

 falivary glands, they have become fwelled and painful again. 

 When this occurred, the tumors of the tefticles became lefs 

 painful, more relaxed, and lefTened in fize, whilft the brain, at 

 the fame time, remained perfectly free from diforder. And 

 this happened more than once in the fame perfon. It was 

 fometimes obferved, that, after the affection of the brain had 



taken 



