bing the body and limbs with
a smooth brush or hand, as is done after bathing in some parts of the East,
does not expend nearly so much sensorial power, as when the warmth is
produced by the locomotion of the whole weight of the body by muscular
action, as in walking, or running, or swimming. Whence the warmth of a fire
is to be preferred to flannel shirts for weak people, and the agitation of
a horse to exercise on foot. And I suppose those, who are unfortunately
lost in snow, who are on foot, are liable to perish sooner by being
exhausted by their muscular exertions; and might frequently preserve
themselves by lying on the ground, and covering themselves with snow,
before they were too much exhausted by fatigue. See Botan. Garden, Vol. II.
the note on Barometz.

ADDITION VIII. PUERPERAL FEVER.

_To be added to Class II. 1. 6. 16._

A very interesting account of the puerperal fever, which was epidemic at
Aberdeen, has been lately published by Dr. Alexander Gordon. (Robinson,
London.) In several dissections of those, who died of this disease,
purulent matter was found in the cavity of the abdomen; which he ascribes
to an erysipelatous inflammation of the peritonaeum, as its principal seat,
and of its productions, as the omentum, mesentery, and peritonaeal coat of
the intestines.

He believes, that it was infectious, and that the contagion was always
carried by the accoucheur or the nurse from one lying-in woman to another.

The disease began with violent unremitting pain of the abdomen on the day
of delivery, or the next day, with shuddering, and very quick pulse, often
140 in a minute. In this situation, if he saw the patient within 12 or 24
hours of her seizure, he took away from 16 to 24 ounces of blood, which was
always sizy. He then immediately gave a cathartic consisting of three
grains of calomel, and 40 grains of powder of jalap. After this had
operated, he gave an opiate at night; and continued the purging and the
opiate for several days.

He asserts, that almost all those, whom he was permitted to treat in this
manner early in the disease, recovered to the number of 50; and that almost
all the rest died. But that when two or three days were elapsed, the
patient became too weak for this method; and the matter was already formed,
which destroyed them. Except that he saw two patients, who recovered after
discharging a large quantity of matter at the navel. And a few, who were
relieved by the appearance of e