68 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
amount of effete matter is to be removed. Consequently 
diaphoretics are of general application; their influence, how¬ 
ever, is very questionable. All the agents employed are power¬ 
less, unless assisted by warm clothing. Their medicinal 
effects, therefore, may be estimated as exceedingly low. 
Thus, the medicines mentioned in Morton's ‘ Materia Me- 
dica,' a meadow saffron," “ potassio-tartrate of antimony," 
(e acetate of ammonia," and “ spirit of nitric aether," are not 
given with the idea that they are capable of producing sen¬ 
sible perspiration; nevertheless, these agents, given in small 
and repeated doses, and assisted by a warm atmosphere and 
plenty of clothing, will occasion a warm and moist condition 
of skin, which would not result from the clothing or atmo¬ 
sphere minus the action of medicine. We are all aware 
how far hot fluids, antimony, and alcoholic mixtures, occasion 
diaphoresis, at a temperature that is insufficient in itself to 
produce the result. 
The selection of the agent will be regulated by the con¬ 
dition of the system. In fever and inflammation, the salts 
of antimony, with frictions and warm clothing, will be 
necessary. In rheumatism, meadow saffron is indicated. In 
that state of system denominated “bad condition," where 
nothing opposes the practice, short and quick canters will 
be most effective, particularly if the animal be well clothed at 
the time, and walked in the open air unclothed, after being 
sufficiently dried by friction. 
The so-called Turkish bath offers at once all the conditions 
? 
necessary for the production of any required amount of 
diaphoresis, without the aid of medicine, warm clothing, or 
exertion. The subject is placed in an atmosphere heated 
from 100° to 200° or higher, and retained there until he per¬ 
spires freely; the diminished volume of the blood is restored 
by cold water ad libitum, given in the bath during the 
sweating; no surface-clothing is used to obstruct the free 
exit of the perspired fluid, ahd no impurities are therefore 
kept in contact with the skin ; the surface may be cleansed 
by ablutions of warm or cold water according to circumstances, 
and after the skin is perfectly dried, the animal may be walked 
quietly in the air unclothed; by this latter treatment the 
smallest remaining trace of depression is removed by the 
stimulating action of the atmosphere. 
Diaphoresis so induced relieves the system of many im¬ 
purities, and is not attended with any of the ordinary in¬ 
jurious consequences. How far its application extends we 
have yet to discover; but its efficacy in many morbid con¬ 
ditions is beyond dispute, and in alluding to those disases 
