he back are torpid, as in the
cold paroxysm of ague, they are attended with pain in consequence of the
inaction of the vessels, which compose them. When this inaction continues
without a consequent renewal or increase of activity, the disease becomes
chronical, and forms the lumbago frigida, or irritativa, described in Class
I. 2. 4. 16. But when this cold fit or torpor of these membranes, or
ligaments or muscles of the back, is succeeded by a hot fit, and consequent
inflammation, a violent inflammatory fever, with great pain, occurs,
preventing the erect posture of the body; and the affected part is liable
to suppurate, in which case a very dangerous ulcer is formed, and a part of
one of the vertebrae is generally found carious, and the patient sinks
after a long time under the hectic fever occasioned by the aerated or
oxygenated matter.

This disease bears no greater analogy to rheumatism than the inflammation
of the pleura, or any other membranous inflammation; and has therefore
unjustly been arranged under that name. It is distinguished from nephritis,
as it is seldom attended with vomiting, I suppose never, except the ureter
happens to be inflamed at the same time.

The pain sometimes extends on the outside of the thigh from the hip to the
ankle, heel, or toes, and is then called sciatica; and has been thought to
consist in an inflammation of the theca, or covering of the sciatic nerve,
as the pain sometimes so exactly attends the principal branches of that
nerve. See Class I. 2. 4. 15. 16.

M. M. Venesection repeatedly; calomel; gentle cathartics; diluents; warm
bath; poultice on the back, consisting of camomile flowers, turpentine,
soap, and opium; a burgundy-pitch plaster. A debility of the inferior limbs
from the torpor of the muscles, which had previously been too much excited,
frequently occurs at the end of this disease; in this case electricity, and
issues on each side of the lumber vertebrae, are recommended. See Class I.
2. 4. 16.

18. _Ischias._ The ischias consists of inflammatory fever, with great pain
about the pelvis, the os coccigis, and the heads of the thigh-bones,
preventing the patient from walking or standing erect, with increase of
pain on going to stool. This malady, as well as the preceding, has been
ascribed to rheumatism; with which it seems to bear no greater analogy,
than the inflammations of any other membranes.

The patients are left feeble, and sometimes lame after this disease; w