310

PALSY.

•I!

wine, mustard-whey, or brandy and water. Friction with the fleshbrush, or a warm hand? is extremely proper, especially on theparts affected. Blistering plasters may likewise be applied to theaffected parts with advantage. When this cannot be done, theymay be rubbed with the volatile liniment.* One of the best exter-nal applications is electricity. The shocks or other vibrationsshould be received on the part affected ; and they ought daily tobe repeated for several weeks.

As a gentle stimulus to the parts, urtication may sometimes beused, warm bathing, the bath waters, electricity, galvanism, are allattended, in many cases, with much benefit, therefore ought not tobe omitted.

When the disease affects several different parts of the body, asin hemiplegia and paraplegia, stimulants should be used both inter-nally and externally. Those in most use are mustard seed, horse-radish, and volatile alkaline salts or spirits, and ether, as directedbelow.t •»

Vomits are very beneficial in this kind of palsy, and ought fre-quently to be administered. Cephalic snuff, or any thing thatmakes the patient sneeze, is likewise of use. Some pretend tohave found great benefit from rubbing the parts affected with net-tles ; but this does not seem to be any way preferable to blistering.If the tongue be affected, the patient may gargle his mouth fre-quently with brandy and mustard ; or he may hold a bit of sugarin lus mouth, wet with the palsy drops, or compound spirits of lav-ender. The wild valerian root is a very proper medicine in thiscase. It may either be taken in an infusion with sage leaves, orhalf a drachm of it in powder may be given in a glass of winethree or four times a day. If the patient cannot use the valerian,he may take of sal volatile oleosum, compound spirits of lavender,and tincture of castor, each half an ounce; mix these together.and take forty ov fifty drops in a glass of wine three oí* four timesa day. A table-spoonful of mustard seed taken frequently is avery good medicine. The patient ought likewise to chew cinna-mon, bark, ginger, or other warm spiceties.

Although in every instance a dangerous disease, palsy, particu-larly at an advanced period of Ufe, is sometimes removed by theoccurrence of a diarrhoea or fever. A feeling of warmth, and aslight pricking pain, as if stung by ants in the parts affected, withreturning sensation and motion, are favourable symptoms.

Exercise is of the utmost importance in the palsy ; but the pa-tient must be aware of cold, damp, and moist air. He ought towear flannel next his skin ; and, if possible, should remove into awanner climate.

* Take Compound Camphor Liniment,1 ounce.Oil of Turpentine, 3 drachms.Make a liniment.

¿> or

Take Spirits of Camphor, 1 ounce.

Tincture of Spanish Flies, 2 drachms.Solution of Subcarbonate of

Ammonia, ¿ ounce.

t Take White Mustard Seed,

Two tea-spoonsful in a tea-cupful of coldwater.

orTake White Mustard Seed bruised,

Horse-iadish, of each, bounces.Orange Peel, A ounee.

j. Pump Water. 2 pints.

Make a decoction, and strain. oT which atea-cupful may be taken three timesa-day ; adding occasionally 20 drops ofthe Tincture of" Valerian.