250 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



cleared, and the Tick perfon clothes himfelf, or is trans- 

 ported on the mat to his chamber ; as the entrance to 

 the bath is ufually within fame chamber of his habita- 

 tion. 



The Temazcalli has been regularly ufed in feveral 

 diforders, particularly in fevers occafioned by coftivenefs. 

 The Indian women ufe it commonly after child-birth, 

 and alfo thofe perfons who have been ftung or wounded 

 by any poifonous animal. It is, undoubtedly, a power- 

 ful remedy for all thofe who have occafion to carry off 

 grofs humours, and certainly it would be mofl ufeful in 

 Italy where the rheumatifm is fo frequent and afflicting. 

 When a very copious fweat is defired, the fick perfon is 

 raifed up and held in the vapour ; as he fweats the more, 

 the nearer he is to it. The Temazcalli is fo common, 

 that in every place inhabited by the Indians there are 

 many of them. 



With refpect to the furgery of the Mexicans, the Spa- 

 nifh conquerors attefl their expedition and fuccefs in 

 dreffing and curing wounds (/). 



Befides the balfam and maripenda, they employed the 

 milk of the Itzontecpaili (fpecies of thistle j, tobacco, and 

 other herbs. For ulcers they ufed the Nanahuapatli, 

 the Zacatlipatli, and the Itzcutnpatli ; for abfcelfes and 

 feveral fwellings, the Tlalamatl^ and the milk of the 

 Chilpatli ; and for fractures the Nacazol, or To/oatzin. 

 After drying and reducing the feed of this plant to 

 powder, they mixed it with a certain gum, and applied 

 it to the affected part, covered the part with feathers, 

 and over it laid little boards to fet the bones. 



The 



(/) Cortes himfelf being in great danger of his life from a wound he re- 

 ceived on his head in the famous battle of Otompan, was greatly relieved, and 

 at laft perfe&ly cured by the Tlafcalan art of furgery. 



