SPITTING OF BLOOD.
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REGIMEN.—The patient ought to be kept cooland easy. Every thing that heats the blood, orquickens the circulation, increases the danger. Themind ought likewise to be soothed, and every occa-sion of exciting the passions avoided. The diet shouldbe soft, cooling, and slender; as rice boiled withmilk, small broths, barley-gruels, panado, &c. Thediet in this case can scarcely be too low. Evenwater-gruel is sufficient to support the patient forsome days. All strong liquors must be avoided. Thepatient may drink milk and water, barley-water,whey, butter-milk, and such like. Every thing, how-ever, should be drank cold, and in small quantitiesat a time. He should observe the strictest silence,or at least speak with a very low voice.
MEDICINE.—This, like other involuntary dis-charges of blood, ought not to be involuntarily stop-ped by astringent medicines. More mischief is oftendone by these, than if it were suffered to go on. Itmay, however, proceed so far as to wea ven the pa-tient, and even endanger his life; in which case pro-per means must be used for restraining it.
The body should be kept gently open by laxativediet; as roasted apples, stewed prunes, and such like.If these should not have the desired effect, a tea-spoonful of the lenitive electuary may be taken twiceor thrice a day, as is found necessary. If the bleedingproves violent, ligatures may be applied to the extre-mities, as directed for bleeding at the nose.
If the patient be hot or feverish, bleeding and smalldoses of nitre will be of use; a scruple, or half adrachm, of nitre may be taken in a cup of his ordinarydrink twice or thrice a day. His drink may likewisebe sharpened with acids, as juice of lemon, or a fewdrops of the spirit of vitriol; or he may take fre-quently a cup of the tincture of roses.
Bathing the feet and legs in luke-warm water, haslikewise a very good effect in this disease. Opiates,too, are sometimes beneficial; but these must be ad-ministered with caution. Ten or twelve drops of lau-danum may be given in a cup of barley-water twice