American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-14
pleasure? The following is the scientific

pleasure? The following is the scientific
reason: A vast number of minute glands
| spread over the inner surface of the cults
| cerd, or true skin, for the purpose of Sc
creting "A watcrv fluid for evaporation AT
high temperatures these glands are excited
10 secretion in proportion to the amount of
heat. Exhalation becomes copious-evap-
Grafton takes place rapidly, and thus the
skin surface is kept moist and cool. Hence
| the capacity of the human body to endure
high temperatures with impunity must be
measured by the powers of exhalation and
evaporation its cutaneous organism pos
sesses. Because were the skin choked up
so as not to secrete and exhale sufficiently,
the action of the high heat OF the fever on
the skin surface would obliterate its
natural functions and death result
1t is a settled principle in mechanical
philosophy that heat is but form of molec-
ular energy, or simply mode of motion
why, then, cannot the heat of the inilam-
nation of the skin of a smallpox patient
be transformed on the wellknown law
that heat is absorbed and carried off on
the conversion of a liquid into the gaseous
state?
Any very light substance, which rapidIv
evaporatcs, would do this, as ether; but
the application of any such, except the
one to be mentioned and its relatives, to an
infiamed surface is irritating and smart
ing. We must also have something which
will destroy the poisonous exhalations.
l discovered that common gasoline was
the agent sought for. 1t is well known
that this volatile liquid is great refrieer
ant. 1t is very good disinfectant. If the
body of a small pox patient be carefully
sponged with it and gently famed it
quickly reduces the cutaneous heat, neu-
traliZes the nasty Odor which exhales from
The body, and produces most delightful
and comfortable sensation. Its rapid
evaporation abstracts the excessive heat
from the fiery surface, checks the ulccra-
tive process of the true skin antAthereby
orerents pttting The discovery of this
fact alone is godsend to millions. Italso
prevents other persons from taking the
disease by disinfecting the ROOM If the
treatment commences when the eruption
makes Its first appearance, the skin may
be kept perfectly sound. The fever fame
will be quenched and hence the pimples
will not develop to pustulcs. If there
should be any fear of suppsessing the
eruption all over the body, save the face at
any rate. Cover it completely with linen
gauze and keep this saturated with the
fluid, then gently fan as the occasion re-
quires. The temperature can be regulated
at pleasure. If the patient be watched
closely and carefully attended not one sore
will form.
If anything appears it will be but pim-
pie, which will speedily vanish under the
Treatment. Should the eruption be per-
mitted to take its natural course on the
body, do not allow the sores to run to-
gether, and determine to control violent
signs of inflammation of the skin Check
anything that looks like confluence, for
this is the principal danger.
Now, gasoline being one of the best re-
frigerants and not inferior as disinfect-
ant, it is easy to understand, theoretically,
why this simple remedy should act in, at
least, modifying the disease, and l am
sure there will be no disappointment in
practice. In the treatment of eleven cases
it was triumphant success.
The following is my prescription and
mode of using it:
Gasoline, one pint.
Gum camphor, as much as it will dis
solve
Pulverized sulphate of soda, one dram.
Pure carbolic acid, half dram.
Cover the body with gauZe linen and
sponge the gasoline over It as occasion re
quires; then gently fan; continue the
process until all signs of inflammation
have ceased.
No light should be permitted near the
patient while spongilg and tanning, be-
cause gasoline Is most inflammable SUBJ
stance.
l now use somewhat similar com
pound as . Eminent in many cases, such
as erysipelas, rheumatism, govt, boils,
scalds, burns, and any local
inflammation As a remedy for reducing
the rage of external Inflammation there is
nothing known to equal its soothing and
grateful cooling influences.