DIABETES, &c.

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Causes. — A diabetes is often the consequence of acute diseases,as fevers, fluxes, &c, where the patient has suffered by excessiveevacuations ; it may .also be occasioned by great fatigue, as ridinclong journies upon a hard ; trotting horse, carrying heavy burdens,running, »fee. It may be brought on by hard drinking, or the useof strong stimulating diuretic medicines, as tincture of cantharides,spirits of turpentine, and such like. It is often the effect of drink-ing too great quantities of mineral waters. Many imagine thatthese will do them no service unless they be drank in great quan-tities, by which mistake it often happens that they occasion worsediseases than those they were intended to cure. In a word, this dis-ease may either proceed from too great a laxity of the organs whichsecrete the urine, from something that stimulates the kidneys toomuch, or from ¡1 thin dissolved state of the blood, which makes toogreat a quantity of it run off by the urinary passages.

Symptoms. — In a diabetes, the urine generally exceeds in quan-tity all the liquid food which the patient takes. It is thin andpale, of a sweetish taste, and an agreeable smell. The patient hasa continual thirst, with some degree of fever ; his mouth is dry,and he spits frequently a frothy spittle. The strength fails, theappetite decays, and the flesh wastes away till the patient is reduc-ed to skin and bone. There is a heat of the bowels ; and fre-quently the loins, testicles, and feet, are swelled.

It has been remarked, that diabetes is often preceded or accom-panied with an affection of the lungs ; and Dr. Bardsley informsus that he does not recollect an instance of the disease which wasnot attended with some affection of the chest.

This disease may generally be cured at the beginning : but afterit has continued long, the cure becomes very difficult. In drunk-ards, and very old people, a perfect cure is not to be expected.

Regimen. — Every thing that stimulates the urinary passages, ortends to relax the habit, must be avoided. For this reason, thepatient should live chiefly on solid food. His thirst may be quench-ed with acids ; as sorrel, juice of lemon, or vinegar. The mucil-aginous vegetables, as rice, sago, and salop, with milk, are themost proper food. Of animal substances, shell-fish are to be pre-ferred ; as oysters, crabs, &c.

The Bristol Hot-well waters, when drank at the fountain head,have long been celebrated for their good effects in this disease.When that cannot be obtained, lime-water, in which a due propor-tion of oak-bark has been macerated, may be used.

The patient ought daily to take exercise, but it should be so gen-tle as not to fatigue him. He should lie upon a hard bed or mat-tress. Nothing hurts the kidneys more than lying too soft. Awarm dry air, the use of the flesh-brush, and every thing that pro-motes perspiration, is of service. For this reason, the patientought to wear flannel next his skin. A large strengthening-plas- .ter may be applied to the back ; or, what will answer better, agreat part of the body may be wrapped in plaster.

Medicine. — Gentle purges, if the patient be not too much weak-ened by the disease, have a good effect. They may coasist of