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OF THE CROUP.

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resolving and destroying the purulent matter, or tubular membranoussubstance that cause spasms and often suffocates the patient, let himdrink frequently a cupful of broth, gruel, or barley-water, in every pintof which a drachm and a half or two drachms of the salt of tartar orprepared kali has been dissolved, which may be dulcified a littleby honey or the syrup of marsh-mallows.

Aiter bleeding and vomiting, give three to six grains of calomel mixedwith as much ginger, and half a drachm of powdered sugar; let this bewallowed slowly, and worked off by drinking broth or gruel, &c. medi-cated by the tixed alkaline salt above mentioned. He should likewisebe made to inhale the steams of warm water and vinegar. Topicalbleeding, by the application of three to six leeches, according to thaage or strength of the patient, applied to the throat, is of considerableservice. As soon as the leeches fall off, the patient may be laid, withhis head raised high in bed, between blankets, and supplied with warmbarley-water, mixed with the acetated water of ammonia, to excitaperspiration. When the bleeding ceases, cover the front of the neckwith the compound cerate of galbanum, mentioned in the chapter onHydrophobia. If in twelve hours the characteristic symptoms of thedisease do not abate, a blistering-plaster must be applied round the neckor between the shoulders, and the child may frequently take a table-spoonful of the following mixture: milk of gum ammoniacum threeounces, hyssop or pennyroyal water two ounces, oxymel of squills threedrachms, syrup of marsh-mallows and of white poppies of each an ouncemix them together.

At the commencement, and throughout the whole course of the dis-ease, the antiphlogistic regimen is necessary; and calomel, in doses ofone to three grains, may be administered two or three times in the courseof twenty-four hours. Cataplasms of camphor, garlic, and Venicetreacle, should be appried to the feet; laxative clysters are also said tobe serviceable, especially if they are mixed with a few spoonfuls of theexpressed juice of garlic; and it is certain, that, as often as an increaseddifficulty of breathing indicates a fresh accumulation of the inspissatedlymph, it should be dislodged if possible, by emetics once or twice a-day.

Such is the treatment of the disease when it is purely inflammatory ;but when it is almost entirely spasmodic, proceeding, as it were, from acramp of the throat, asafcetida has a good effect. It may be both givenJn form of clyster, and taken by the mouth. Two drachms of asafcetidamay be dissolved in one ounce of the acetated water of ammonia, andthree ounces of hyssop or of pennyroyal water. A table-spoonful of thismixture may be given every hour, or oftener, if the patient's stomach beable to bear it. If the child cannot be brought to take this medicine,two drachms of asafoetida may be dissolved ill a common clyster, andadministered every six or eight hours till the violence of the diseaseabates.

Tincture of opium, in doses of five, six, to eight drops, given everytwo hours until sleep, or a remission of the stricture and spasms of themuscles of the glottis was procured, appears to have averted the fatalissue of the croup, w'licli has lately been successfully treated by givingfive drops of the tincture of fox-glove every four hours.