SPITTING OF BLOOD.

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twisting the ends together, and daily repeating (histill it cuts its way out.

SPITTING OF BLOOD.

We mean here to treat of that discharge of bloodfrom the lungs only which is called an h<r?noptoe, orspitting of blood. Persons of a slender make, and alax fibre, who have long necks and strait breasts, aremore liable to this disease. It is most common inthe spring, and generally attacks people before theyarrive at the prime or middle of life. It is a commonobservation, that those who have been subject tobleeding at the nose when young, are afterwards mostliable to an haeinoptoe.

CAUSE.—An haernoptoe may proceed from ex-cess of blood, from a peculiar weakness of the lungs,or a bad conformation of the breast. It is often occa-sioned by excessive drinking, running, wrestling, sing-ing, or speaking aloud. Such as have weak lungsought to avoid all violent exertions of that organ, asthey value life. They should likewise guard againstviolent passions, excessive drinking, and every thingthat occasions a rapid circulation of the blood.

This disease may likewise proceed from wounds ofthe lungs. These may either be received from with-out, or they may be occasioned by hard bodies gettinginto the wind-pipe, and so falling down upon the lungs,and hurting that tender organ. The obstructions ofany customary evacuation may occasion a spitting ofblood; as neglect of bleeding or purging at the usualseasons, the stoppage of the bleeding piles in men, orthe menses in women, &c. It may likewise proceedfrom a polipus, scirrhus concretions, or any thing thatobstructs the circulation of the blood in the lungs. Itis often the effect of a long and violent cough; in whichcase it is generally the forerunner of a consumption.A violent degree of cold suddenly applied to the ex-ternal parts of the body will occasion an haemoptoe.It may likewise be occasioned by breathing air which

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