PNEUMONITIS. 
657 
cation in the second stage. Resolution will be sure to begin 
and continue if the life of the patient be sufficiently prolonged. 
At this stage, gentlemen, it is a case of “to be or not to be,” 
and, alas, quite often in my experience it is “ not to be the 
disease quite often running on into the suppurative and 
gangrenous stage, despite my every effort to avert it. Occa¬ 
sionally I am more fortunate, and my supporting treatment 
consists of tonics, stimulants and nutritious foods. Of tonics 
I prefer quinine in small doses and gradually increased. I 
also got aromatic spirits ammonia to stimulate heart and pro¬ 
mote liquefaction of the exudate. I give whiskey or alcohol 
to stimulate liver and sustain vital forces, which act as an 
active diffusible food, which is quickly taken up by the tissues 
and appropriated for the purpose of reconstruction and 
physiological change. 
Whenever a question arises in the management of a case, 
whether alcoholics are advisable or not, it should be borne in 
mind that to begin earlier than they are required is far prefer¬ 
able to subsequent delay ; for, with proper care, they can be 
suspended without any injury having been done, whereas the 
time lost by beginning too late cannot be regained. 
Alimentation is an essential part of the supporting treat¬ 
ment, and the patient should be encouraged to take nutritious 
food during the whole course of the disease. Soft nutritious 
foods are undoubtedly best, but 1 have often seen patients, 
especially the cow and horse, refuse everything but corn, and 
I always encourage them to eat it, as I think the taste and 
desires of the patient can be trusted in this respect. Where 
the patient refuses all food, I think great benefits arise from 
the injection per rectum of small quantities of gruel, milk, etc. 
As well as the medicinal treatment, the local treatment should 
never be lost sight of, such as warm foot-baths, enemas of 
warm water, hand rubbing and bandaging extremities. 
In conclusion, I would say that nursing and not dosing is 
the common-sense treatment of pneumonitis. 
