RHEUMATISM.

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stomachic purges. The patient ought to keep in bed for the mostpart, if there be any signs of inflammation, and should be verycareful not to catch cold.

If it attack the stomach, with a sense of cold, the most warmcordials are necessary; as strong wine boiled up with cinnamon orother spices, cinnamon-water, peppermint-water, and even brandyor rum.* The patient should keep his bed, and endeavour to pro-mote a sweat by drinking warm liquors ; and if he should betroubled with a nausea, or inclination to' vomit, he may drink cam-omile-tea, or any thing that will make him vomit freely. Opiates,fjoined with aromatics, or with camphor, musk,-or ammonia, maybe of service.

When the gout attacks the kidneys, and imitates gravel-pains,the patient ought to drink freely of a decoction of marsh-mallows,and to have the parts fomented with warm water. An emollientclyster ought likewise to be given, and afterwards an opiate. Ifthe pain be very violent, twenty or thirty drops of laudanum maybe taken in a cup of the decoction.

Persons who have had the gout should be very attentive to anycomplaints that may happen to them about the time when theyhave reason to expect a return of the fit. The gout imitates manyother disorders, and by being mistaken for them, and treatedimproperly, is often diverted from its regular course, to the greatdanger of the patient's life.

Those who never had the gout, but who, from their constitutionor manner of living, have reason to expect it, ought likewise to bevery circumspect with regard to its first approach. If the diseaseby wrong conduct or improper medicines, be diverted from itsproper course, the miserable patient has a chance to be ever aftertormented with head-achs, coughs, pains of the stomach and intes-tines; and to fall at last a victim to its attack upon some of themore noble parts.

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Rheumatism.

This disease has often a resemblance to the gout. It generallyattacks the joints with exquisite pain, and is sometimes attendedwith inflammation and swelling. It is most common in the spring,and towards the end of autumn. It is usually distinguished intoacute and chronic: or the rheumatism with and without a fever.

Causes. — The causes of a rheumatism are frequently the sameas those of an inflammatory fever, viz. an obstructed perspiration,the immoderate use of strong liquors, and the like. Suddenchanges of the weather, and all quick transitions from heat tocold, are very apt to occasion the rheumatism. The most extraor-

* Ether is found to be an efficacious remedy in this case.

t Take Opium, 1 grain.

Camphor, 6 grains.

Aromatic Confection, 5 grains.Make a bolus, to be taken occasionally.

orTake Camphor Mixture, 1¿ ounce.

Subcarbonate of Ammonia, 10 grs.Tincture of Opium. 12 drops.

Spirit of Sulphuric Ether, 30 drops.Make a draught, to be taken every threehours.

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