Diseases > Domestic medicine

278 buchan’s
once a fortnight or three weeks. This is indeed a
cheap and simple medicine, and consequently apt to
be despised ; but we will venture to affirm, that the
whole materia medica, does not afford an application
more efficacious in almost every kind of cough. It
has not indeed always an immediate effect; but, if
kept on for some time, it will succeed where most
other medicines fail.
The only inconvenience attending this plaster is
the itching which it occasions; but surely this may
be dispensed with, considering the advantage which
the patient may expect to reap from the application;
besides, when the itching becomes very uneasy, the
plaster may be taken off, and the part rubbed with a
dry cloth, or washed with a little warm milk and
water. Some caution indeed is necessary in discon¬
tinuing the use of such a plaster; this, however, may
be safely done by making it smaller by degrees,
and at length quitting it altogether in a warm season.
Some complain that the pitch plaster adheres too
fast, while others find difficulty in keeping it on.
This proceeds from the different kinds of pitch made
use of, and likewise from the manner of making it.
I generally find it answer best when mixed with a
little bees-wax, and spread as cool as possible.
The clear, hard, transparent pitch answers the purpose
best.
But coughs proceed from many other causes besides
defluxions upon the lungs. In these cases the cure
is not to be attempted by pectoral medicines. Thus,
in a cough proceeding from a foulness and debility
of the stomach, syrups, oils, mucilages, and all kinds
of balsamic medicines do hurt. The stomach cough
may be known from one that is owing to a fault in
the lungs by this, that in the latter the patient
coughs whenever he inspires, or draws in his breath
fully ; but in the former that does not happen.