Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMESTIC MEDICINE. 205
cool, Those who would avoid this disease, ought
therefore, after speaking aloud, singing, running,
drinking warm liquor, or doing any thing that may
strain the throat, or increase the circulation of the
blood towards it, to take care to cool gradually, and
to wrap some additional coverings about their necks.
I have often known persons who had been subject
to sore throats, entirely .freed from that complaint by
only wearing a ribband, or a bit of flannel, constantly
about their necks, or by wearing thicker shoes, a flan¬
nel waistcoat, or the like. These may seem trifling,
but they have great effect. There is danger indeed
in leaving them off, after persons have been accus¬
tomed to them ; but surely the inconvenience of
using such things for life, is not to be compared with
the danger which may attend the neglect of them.
Sometimes, after an inflammation, the glands of
the throat continue swelled, and become hard and
callous. This complaint is not easily removed, and
is often rendered dangerous by the too frequent ap¬
plication of strong stimulating and styptic medicines.
The best method is to keep it warm, and to gargle it
twice a-day, with a decoction of figs sharpened a
little with the elixir or spirit of vitriol.
MALIGNANT QUINSEY, OR PUTRID, ULCEROUS
SORE THROAT.
This kind of quinsey is but little known in the
northern parts of Britain, though, for some time past,
it has been fatal in the more southern counties.
Children are more liable to it than adults, females
than males, and the delicate than those who are hardy
and robust. It prevails chiefly in autumn, and is
most frequent after a long course of damp or sultry
weather. jg