OF A CONFIRMED LUES

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but as none of them have been found to possess virtuessuperior to those already mentioned, we shall, for thesake of brevity, pass them over, and shall concludeour observations on this disease, with a few generalremarks concerning - the proper management of thepatient, and the nature of the infection.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The condition of the patient ought always to beconsidered, previous to his entering upon a course ofmercury in any form. It would be equally rash anddangerous to administer mercury to a person labouring'under any violent acute disease, as a putrid fever,pleurisy, peripneumony, or the like. It would like-wise be dangerous in some chronic cases \ as slow hec-tic fever, or the last stage of a consumption. Some-times, however, these diseases proceed from a ton-firmed lues; in which case it will be necessary to givemercury. In chronic diseases of a less dangerous na-ture, as the asthma, the gravel, and such like, mercury,if necessary, may be safely administered. If the pa-tient's strength has been greatly exhauste'd by sick-ness, labour, abstinence, or any other cause, the useof mercury must be postponed, till by time, rest, anda nourishing diet, it can be sufficiently restored.

Mercury ought not to be administered to womenduring - the menstrual flux, or when the period is nearat hand. Neither should it be given in the last stage ofpregnancy. If, however, the woman be not near thetime of her delivery, and circumstances render it ne-cessary, mercury may be given, but in small doses,and at greater intervals than usual; with these pre-cautions, both the mother and child may be curedat the same time, if not, the disorder will at least bekept from growing worse, till the woman be brought,to bed, and sufficiently recovered, when a moreeffectual method may be pursued, which, if she sucklesher child, will in all probability be sufficient for thecure of both.

Mercury ought always to be administered to infants