Diseases > Domestic medicine

392 buchan's
Svmptoms.—At first small knots appear under the
chin or behind the ears, which gradually increase in
number and size, till they form one large hard tumour.
This often continues for a long time without breaking,
and when it does break, it only discharges a thin
tanies, or watery humour. Other parts of the body
are likewise liable to its attack, as the arm-pits,
groins, feet, hands, eyes, breasts, &c. Nor are the
internal parts exempt from it. It often affects the
lungs, liver, or spleen; and I have frequently seen
the glands of the mesentery greatly enlarged by it.
Those obstinate ulcers which break out upon the
feet and hands with swelling and little or no redness,
are of the scrophulous kind. They seldom discharge
good matter, and are exceedingly difficult to cure.—
The white swellings of the joints seem likewise to be
of this kind. They are with difficulty brought to a
suppuration, and when opened they only discharge a
thin ichor. There is not a more general symptom
of the scrophula than a swelling of the upper lip and
Regimen.—As this disease proceeds, in a great
measure, from relaxation, the diet ought to be gene¬
rous and nourishing, but at the same time light and
of easy digestion ; as well fermented bread, made of
sound grain, the flesh and broth of young animals,
with now and then a glass of generous wine, or good
ale. The air ought to be open, dry, and not too cold,
and the patient should take as much exercise as he
can bear. This is of the utmost importance. Children
who hai— sufficient exercise are seldom troubled with
the scrophula.
Medicine.—The vulgar are remarkably credulpus
with regard to the cure of the scrophula; many of
them believing in the virtue of the royal touch,
that of the seventh son, &c. The truth is, we know