Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMESTIC MEDICINE 147
seldom caught, unless when people have been too
much heated. Heat rarifies the blood, quickens the
circulation, and increases the perspiration; but when
these are suddenly checked, the consequences must
be bad. It is indeed impossible for labourers not
to be too hot upon some occasions ; but it is gene¬
rally in their power to let themselres cool gradually,
to put on their clothes when they leave off work, to
make choice of a dry place to rest themselves in, and
to avoid sleeping in the open fields. These easy
rules, if observed, would often prevent fevers, and
other fatal disorders.
It is very common for people, when hot, to drink
freely of cold water, or small liquors. This conduct
is extremely dangerous. Thirst indeed is hard to
bear, and the inclination to gratify that appetite fre¬
quently gets the better of reason, and makes us do
what our judgment disapproves. Every peasant,
however, knows, if his horse be permitted to drink
his bellyful of cold water after violent exercise, and
be immediately put into the stable, or suffered to
remain at rest, that it will kill him. This they take
the utmost care to prevent. It were well if they were
equally attentive to their own safety.
Thirst may be quenched many ways without
swallowing large quantities of cold liquor. The fields
afford variety of acid fruits and plants, the very
chewing of which would abate thirst. Water kept
in the mouth for some time, and spit out again, if
frequently repeated, will have the same effect. If a
bit of bread be eaten along with a few mouthsful of
water, it will quench thirst more effectually, and
make the danger less. When a person is extremely
hot, a mouthful of brandy, or other spirits, if it can
•be obtained, ought to be preferred to any thing else.
But if auy one has been so foolish, when hot, as to