Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMESTIC MEDICINE. 247
end m a mortification. Sometimes the inflammation
cannot be discussed, but comes to a suppuration ; in
which case fistulas, a gangrene, or mortification, often
ensue. Such as die of this disease are commonly carried
off by the fever, which is attended with difficulty of
breathing, and sometimes with a delirium and great
drowsiness. They generally die about the seventh or
eighth day.
Regimen.—In the erysipelas the patient must
neither be kept too hot nor too cold, as either of
these extremes will tend to make it retreat, which is
always to be guarded against. When the disease is
mild, it will be sufficient to keep the patient within
doors, without confining him to bed, and to promote
the perspiration by diluting liquors, &c.
The diet ought to be slender, and of a moderately
cooling and moistening quality, as groat gruel, panado,
chicken or barley broth, with cooling herbs and fruits,
&c.—avoiding fish, flesh, strong drink, spices, pickles
and all other things that may heat and inflame the
blood ; the drink may be barley-water, an infusion of
elder flowers, common whey, and such like.
But if the pulse be low and the spirits sink, th
patient must be supported with negus and other
things of a cordial nature. His food may be sago
gruel with a little wine, and nourishing broths taken
in small quantities, and often repeated. Great care
however must be taken not to overheat him.
Medicine.—In this disease much mischief is often
done by medicine, especially by external applications.
People, when they see an inflammation, immediately
think that something ought to be applied to it. This
indeed is necessary in large phlegmons; but in an
erysipelas the safer course is to apply nothing.
Almost all ointments, salves, and plasters, being of a
greasy nature, tend rather to obstruct and repel, than