PLEüKISY.

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SPURIOUS PERIPNEUMONIA OR BASTARD PLEURISY.

(Peripneumonia Not ha.)

That species of pleurisy which is called the bastard, or spurious,generally goes off by keeping warm for a few clays, drinking plentyof diluting liquors, and observing a cooling regimen.

It is known by a dry cough, a quick pulse, and a difficulty oflying on the affected side ; which last does not always happen inthe true pleurisy. Sometimes, indeed, this disease proves obsti-nate, and requires bleeding, with cupping, and scarifications of thepart affected. These, together with the use of nitrous and othercooling medicines, seldom fail to effect a cure. Blistering is oftenuseful in this disease, to relieve the difficulty of breathing, and op-pression at the chest ; and if nausea prevail, a gentle emetic maybe prescribed. We may be satisfied with the use of antimonials,as in the true peripneumony.

Through the whole course of the disease the antiphlogistic regi-men will be proper. Where great debility prevails, or where thepatient has been accustomed to a free use of fermented liquors,a small quantity of wine will be admissible.

PARAPHRENIAS.

The paraphrenitis, or inflammation of the diaphragm, is so near-ly connected with the pleurisy, and resembles it so much in themanner of treatment, that it is scarcely necessary to consider it asa separate disease.

It is attended with a very acute fever, and extreme pain in thepart affected, which is generally augmented by coughing, sneezing,drawing in the breath, taking food, going to stool, making water,&c. Hence the patient breathes quick, and draws in his bowelsto prevent the motion of the diaphragm ; is restless, anxious, has adry cough, a hiccup, and often a delirium. A convulsive laugh, orrather a kind of involuntary grin, is no uncommon symptom ofthis disease.

Every method must be taken to prevent a suppuration, as it isimpossible to save the patient's life when this happens. The regi-men and medicine are in all respects the same as in the pleurisy.We shall only add that, in this disease, emollient clysters are pe-culiarly useful, as they relax the bowels, and by that means, makea derivation from the part affected.

Considering bronchitis, or inflammation of the bronchia, or air-cells of the lungs, as only a milder species of pneumonic inflam-mation, and requiring a somewhat similar treatment as inflamma-tory sore throat, and pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs, ithas not been deemed necessary to notice it under a distinct head.

As regards carditis, or inflammation of the heart ; pericarditis,or inflammation of the pericardium ; and diaphragmitis, or inflam-mation of the diaphragm, they are, on many occasions, scarcely tobe distinguished from inflammation of the lungs, and probably are,for the most part, combined with it ; and the treatment happily isthe same, with this difference, however, that as the parts affectedare immediately necessary to life, the means of cure must becwdoyed with diligence and despatch.

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