OF CONSUMPTIONS.

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have seen one instance of a genuine consumption of the lungs curedby medicine, yet I have known a West India voyage work wonders inthat dreadful disorder;" and that " a voyage of this kind, if taken indue time, will seldom tail to cure a consumption."

Such as try this method of cure ought to carry as much fresl,provisions along with them as will serve for the whole time they artat sea. As milk is not easily obtained in this situation, they oughtto live upon fruits, and the broth of chickens, or other young animalswhich can be kept alive on board. It is scarcely necessary to add,that such voyages should be undertaken, if possible, in the mildestseason, and that they ought to be towards a warmer climate.

Those who have not courage for a long voyage, may travel into amore southern climate, as the south of France, Spain, or Portugal;*nd if they find the air of these countries agree with them, theyshould continue there at least till their health be confirmed.

Next to proper air and exercise, we would recommend a due at-tention to diet. The patient should eat nothing that is either heatingor hard of digestion, and his drink must be of a soft and cooling na-ture. All the diet ought to be calculated to lessen the acrimony ofthe humours, and to nourish and support the patient. For this pur-pose he must keep chiefly to the use of vegetables and milk. Milkalone is of more value in this disease than the whole materia medica.

Asses' milk is commonly reckoned preferable to any other; but ilcannot always be obtained; besides, it is generally taken in a verysmall quantity; whereas, to produce any effects, it ought to make aconsiderable part of the patient's diet. It is hardly to be expected,Lhat a gill or two of asses' milk, drank in the space of twenty-fouthours, should be able to produce any considerable change in thehumours of an adult; and when people do not perceive its effectssoon, they lose hope, and so leave it off. Hence it happens thatthis medicine, however valuable, very seldom performs a cure. Thereason is obvious; it is commonly used too late, is taken in too smallquantities, and is not duly persisted in.

I have known very extraordinary effects from asses' milk in obstilate coughs, which threatened a consumption of the lungs; and doverily believe, if used at] this period, that it would seldom fail; butif it be delayed till an ulcer is formed, which is generally the case,l iow can it be expected to succeed ?

Asses' milk ought to be drank, if possible, in its natural warmth,md by a grown person, in the quantity of half an English pint at atime. Instead of taking this quantity night and morning only, thePatient ought to take it four times, or at least thrice a-day, and toeat a little light bread along with it, so as to make it a kind of meal.

If the milk should happen to purge, it may be mixed with old con-serve of roses. When that cannot be obtained, the powder of crabs'claws may be used in its stead. Asses' milk is usually ordered to be'Irank warm in bed; but as it generally throws the patient in asweat when taken in this way, it would perhaps be better to give itafter he rises. Dr. Reid however observes, that " a peculiar anti-phthisical property has bztn attributed to apses' milk. The onlv «<i-

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