whole head, with
strong hard pulse: he was not evacuated early in the disease through the
timidity of his apothecary, and died delirious. Mrs. F---- had erysipelas
on the face, without either strong or weak pulse; that is, with sensitive
fever alone, without superabundance or deficiency of irritation; and
recovered without any but natural evacuations. From these three cases of
erysipelas on the head it appears, that the evacuations by the lancet must
be used with courage, where the degree of inflammation requires it; but not
where this degree of inflammation is small, nor in the erysipelas attended
with inirritation, as described below.

M. M. Venesection repeated according to the degree of inflammation. An
emetic. Calomel three grains every other night. Cool air. Diluents, emetic
tartar in small doses, as a quarter of a grain every six hours. Tea, weak
broth, gruel, lemonade, neutral salts. See Sect. XII. 6.

Such external applications as carry away the heat of the skin may be of
service, as cold water, cold flour, snow, ether. Because these applications
impede the exertions of the secerning vessels, which are now in too great
action; but any applications of the stimulant kind, as solutions of lead,
iron, copper, or of alum, used early in the disease, must be injurious; as
they stimulate the secerning vessels, as well as the absorbent vessels,
into greater action; exactly as occurs when stimulant eye-waters are used
too soon in ophthalmy. See Class II. 1. 2. 2. But as the cuticle peels off
in this case after the inflammation ceases, it differs from ophthalmy; and
stimulant applications are not indicated at all, except where symptoms of
gangrene appear. For as a new cuticle is formed under the old one, as under
a blister, the serous fluid between them is a defence to the new cuticle,
and should dry into a scab by exhalation rather than be reabsorbed. Hence
we see how greasy or oily applications, and even how moist ones, are
injurious in erysipelas; because they prevent the exhalation of the serous
effusion between the old and new cuticle, and thus retard the formation of
the latter.

_Erysipelas inirritatum_ differs from the former in its being attended with
weak pulse, and other symptoms of sensitive inirritated fever. The feet and
legs are particularly liable to this erysipelas, which precedes or attends
the sphacelus or mortification of those parts. A great and long coldness
first affects the limb, and the erysipel