ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE.

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oss of strength, pain in the head and back, heat, restlessness, anda quick pulse; to which may be added vomiting, and sometimes adelirium. On the second, third, or fourth day, the part swells,becomes red, and small pustules appear; at which time the fevergenerally abates.

When the erysipelas seizes the foot, the parts contiguous swell,the skin shines; and, if the pain be violent, it will ascend to theleg, and will not bear to be touched.

When it attacks the face, it swells, appears red, and the skin iscovered with small pustules filled with clear water. One or botheyes are generally closed with a swelling ; and there is a difficultyof breathing. If the mouth and nostrils be very dry, and the pa-tient drowsy, there is reason to suspect an inflammation of (hebrain.

If the erysipelas affects the breast, it swells ana becomes exceed-ingly hard, with great pain, and is apt to suppurate. There is aviolent pain in the arm-pit on the side affected, where an abscess isoften formed.

If in a day or two the swelling subsides, the heat and pain abate,the colour of the part turns yellow, and the cuticle breaks and fallsoff in scales, the danger is over.

When the erysipelas is large, deep, and affects a very sensiblepart of the body, the danger is great. If the red colour changesinto a livid or black, it will end in a mortification. Sometimes theinflammation cannot be discussed, but comes to a suppuration ; inwhich case fistulas, a grangrene, or mortification, often ensue.

Such as die of this disease are commonly carried off by the fever,which is attended with difficulty of breathing, and sometimes witha delirium and great drowsiness. They generally die about theseventh or eighth day.

REGIMEN.------In the erysipelas the patient must neither be

kept too hot nor too cold, as either of these extremes will tend tomake it retreat, which is always to be guarded against. When thedisease is mild, it will be sufficient to keep the patient within doors,without confining him to his bed, and to promote the perspirationby diluting liquors, &c.

The diet ought to be slender, and of a moderately cooling andmoistening quality, as groat-gruel, panado, chicken or barley-broth,with cooling herbs and fruits, &c. avoiding flesh,'fish, strong drink,spices, pickles, and all other tilings that may heat and inflame theblood: The drink may be barley-water, an infusion of elder-flowers, common whey, and such like.

But if the pulse be low, and the spirits sunk, the patient mustbe supported with negus, and other things of a cordial nature. Hisfood may be sago-gruel, with a little wine, and nourishing broths,taken in small quantities, and often repeated. Great care, however,must be taken not to overheat him.

MEDICINE.------In this disease much mischief is often done

by medicine, especially by external applications. Peop^t, wher.they see an inflammation, immadiatelv think that something

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