excite the system
into necessary action by the repeated exhibition of nutrientia, sorbentia,
and incitantia; and to preserve the due evacuation of the bowels. 3. To
prevent any unnecessary expenditure of sensorial power. 4. To prevent the
formation of ulcers, or to promote the absorption in them, for the purpose
of healing them.

1. One ounce of wine of ipecacuanha, or about ten grains of the powder,
should be given as an emetic. After a few hours three or four grains of
calomel should be given in a little mucilage, or conserve. Where something
swallowed into the stomach is the cause of the fever, it is liable to be
arrested by the lymphatic glands, as the matter of the small-pox inoculated
in the arm is liable to be stopped by the axillary lymphatic gland; in this
situation it may continue a day or two, or longer, and may be regurgitated
during the operation of an emetic or cathartic into the stomach or bowel,
as evidently happens on the exhibition of calomel, as explained in Sect.
XXIX. 7. 2. For this reason an emetic and cathartic, with venesection, if
indicated by the hardness and fulness of the pulse, will very frequently
remove fevers, if exhibited on the first, second, or even third day.

2. Wine and opium, in small doses repeated frequently, but so that not the
least degree of intoxication follows, for in that case a greater degree of
debility is produced from the expenditure of sensorial power in unnecessary
motions. Many weak patients have been thus stimulated to death. See Sect.
XII. 7. 8. The Peruvian bark should be given also in repeated doses in such
quantity only as may strengthen digestion, not impede it. For these
purposes two ounces of wine, or of ale, or cyder, should be given every six
hours; and two ounces of decoction of bark, with two drachms of the
tincture of bark, and six drops of tincture of opium, should be given also
every six hours alternately; that is, each of them four times in
twenty-four hours. As much rhubarb as may induce a daily evacuation, should
be given to remove the colluvies of indigested materials from the bowels;
which might otherwise increase the distress of the patient by the air it
gives out in putrefaction, or by producing a diarrhoea by its acrimony; the
putridity of the evacuations are in consequence of the total inability of
the digestive powers; and their delay in the intestines, to the inactivity
of that canal in respect to its peristaltic motions.

The quantities of