Diseases > Domestic medicine

with four or five grains of rhubarb, may be taken in
the patient’s ordinary drink, four times a-day.
When the erysipelas leaves the extremities, and
seizes the head so as to occasion a delirium or stupor,
it is absolutely necessary to open the body. If clys¬
ters and mild purgatives fail to have this effect^
stronger ones must be given. Blistering-plasters
must likewise be applied to the neck, or behind the
ears, and sharp cataplasms laid to the soles of the feet.
When the inflammation cannot be discussed, and
the part has a tendency to ulcerate, it will then be
proper to promote suppuration, which may be done
by the application of ripening poultices, with saffron^,
warm fomentations, and such like.
When the black, livid, or blue colour of the part
shews a tendency to mortification, the Peruvian bark
must be administered. It may be taken along with
acids, as recommended in the small-pox, or in any other
form more agreeable to the patient. It must not
however be trifled with, as the patient’s life is at
stake. A drachm may be given every two hours, if
i the symptoms be threatening, and cloths dipped in
I warm camphorated spirits of wine, or the tincture of
myrrh and aloes, may be applied to the part, and
frequently renewed. It may likewise be proper in
this case to apply poultices of the bark, or to foment
the part affected with a strong decoction of it.
In what is commonly called the scorbutic erysipelas,
which continues, for a considerable time, it will only
be necessary to give gentle laxatives, and such things
as purify the blood aad promote the perspiration.
Thus, after the inflammation has been checked by
opening medicines, the decoction of woods may be
drunk, after which a course of bitters will be proper.
Such as are liable to frequent attacks of the
erysipelas, ought carefully to guard against all violent