tion a greater activity of those of the mucous
membrane, which lines the branches of the windpipe, and air-cells of the
lungs; and thus after evacuation they promote the absorption of the mucus
and consequent healing of the inflamed membrane, while the diluting liquids
prevent this mucus from becoming too viscid for this purpose, or facilitate
its expuition.

Blisters, one at a time, on the sides or back, or on the sternum, are also
useful towards the end of peripneumonies, by preventing the evening access
of cold fit, and thence preventing the hot fit by their stimulus on the
skin; in the same manner as five drops of laudanum by its stimulus on the
stomach. For the increased actions of the vessels of the skin or stomach
excite a greater quantity of the sensorial power of association, and thus
prevent the torpor of the other parts of the system; which, when patients
are debilitated, is so liable to return in the evening.

3. Warm bathing is of great service towards the end of peripneumony to
promote expectoration, especially in those children who drink too little
aqueous fluids, as it gently increases the action of the pulmonary
capillaries by their content with the cutaneous ones, and supplies the
system with aqueous fluid, and thus dilutes the secreted mucus.

Some have recommended oil externally around the chest, as well as
internally, to promote expectoration; and upon the nose, when its mucous
membrane is inflamed, as in common catarrh.

IV. 1. Diuretics. If the skin be kept warm, most of these medicines promote
sweat instead of urine; and if their dose is enlarged, most of them become
cathartic. Hence the neutral salts are used in general for all these
purposes. Those indeed, which are composed of the vegetable acid, are most
generally used as sudorifics; those with the nitrous acid as diuretics; and
those with the vitriolic acid as cathartics: while those united with the
marine acid enter our common nutriment, as a more general stimulus. All
these increase the acrimony of the urine, hence it is retained a less time
in the bladder; and in consequence less of it is reabsorbed into the
system, and the apparent quantity is greater, as more is evacuated from the
bladder; but it is not certain from thence, that a greater quantity is
secreted by the kidnies. Hence nitre, and other neutral salts, are
erroneously given in the gonorrhoea; as they augment the pain of making
water by their stimulus on the excoriated or inf