The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-08-01
For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
tn t6f p u b L &c.

hot and dry haTvett, ana inns Ioi 'he P'o
drAion of burning, bilious and putrid levers,
all of ,hem known to be dangerous enough
with the bsa of treatment hue by the leait
mifrnanagementas fatal as p ague; have
digefed a few-thoughts on them feveraIiy'
and hope they will advantage, at leatt iuch
perlons as are not 10 deeply learned as TO
!" need none Of myinaratlion." .
The prefent, doubtlels the true theory OF
medicine, conGders the human body as
fyflem Of fenGble, and irritable veile!s, glands,
and organs fubiea to, and Influenced BY
the action Of their contained fluids, as well
as hat of the external air, &c.
The moR Geniible parts are the nervous
the mott irritable, the mpfcular, particularly
thofe mott Astounding with recent, and not
much indurated mucus. l.. All the mufcular
parts or being irritated, contract; hence the
rational account for the action of the homach,
inteliines, lungs, heart, &c. 2. The lrita-
ton being too great. OF too long continued
produces fpaim cramp, or uneaiy con-
traction of the part, which if general and act
ing ON the fanguinary fyfem muft croud the
blood in great quantities to the heart, liver,
lungs and brain ;whence any of thefe organs
may be overfrained or futjected to fatal
Inflammation. Though the kinds of irritating
matter are various, ] ehufe with DR..
Grant to relolse the mott frequently trouble
fome, to that mixture of fall, water and oil,
commonly called the forum of the blood, fur
mining the matter of the gall, urine and per-
1piration.
This of all our humours is proba-
bly, fubie9 to, and productive of, the moft
changes the extremes of which may be
leucophlegmacy, or white Aabby fwelling
all over the body, and bilious putred fever.
In an ardent or burning fever, there is al
WAYS danger Of an inflammation in fome noble
part and for this undoubtedly the mott
lpeedy and effeaual application of the lancet
is Absolutely neceGary after which purg-
ging ptyfan of barley or oat water, with
dram or two of foluble tartar, and an ounce
or two of mamma with liquorice, or without,
as the patient fancies, may be given every
day, admitting as much free air as can be
borne without chillinels; and gently prink
ling the room with cool water, placing green
boughs, &c. in the corners, and gradually
abating the heat by every method, even in
extreme cafes, to the pouring on of cool wa
ter the ioIe dependence for the cure Of the
Gombroon fever, which is ardent to the lait
degree.
In bilious fever this forum by the heat
and action of thes body, through warm
fummer, becomes very plenty as well as
highly Iixivial, and fhould any accident
hinder its regular fecretion, by the liver, and
conifant Aow into the intellines, very vio-
lent fever, and commonly very dangerous
one is cauied by it.
The crafts of the blood in this fever al
ways tending to a diGolved fate, bleeding,
Especially repetition of it, muR be cautiouAy
ufed though in cafe of much crouding, or
fgns of inflammation in the liver, ifomach,
inteftines or brain, one pretty large bleeding
from fair ori6ce may be highly beneficial.
A mild puke, =: grain of tart. cmet. diff
iolved in whey or weak camomile tea, and
afifed by two to four grains of ipecac. may
then fucceed and ihould they fail to give
few Turns downwards, draught of the
ptyfan above, may be added and repeated in
fuch manner as TO keep the bowels in a lax
ano cool fate.
A free ufe of ripe fruits, indeed every kind
Of vegetable acid the patient admires, may
be INDUCED at pleafure, and ihould the
Aow through the bowels be very plentiful and
iharp, pretty thick barley water, or falooP