athing or Swallowing was
difficult, the Application of a large Blister to the Neck gave speedy
Relief.

OF THE PLEURISY.

The Pleurisy, or an acute Inflammation of the Side, was most frequent
among the Soldiers towards the latter End of the Campaigns; though
some were attacked with it at all Times of the Year, from doing Duty
in all Sorts of Weather.

We followed the antiphlogistic Method of Cure; and ordered plentiful
Bleeding in the Beginning, till the Violence of the Pain began to
abate, or the Patient grew faint;--and the Side to be fomented with
Flannels dipped in warm emollient Decoctions, and afterwards rubbed
with volatile Liniments: At the same Time the Patient drank freely of
warm diluting Liquors, as Barley Water, the pectoral Decoction, and
such like; and took the saline and other cooling Medicines, mixed
occasionally with Sperma Ceti, or some other soft Pectorals, if there
was a tickling Cough.--When the Patient was costive, we gave a Dose of
Salts, or some other mild Physic, or laxative Clysters.

If the Pain continued very acute, we repeated the Bleeding as often as
Necessity seemed to require, and the Pulse could bear; and immediately
after the second Bleeding ordered a large Blister to be applied to the
Part affected.

Physicians formerly used to forbid Bleeding after the fourth Day, if
it had been omitted so long; but when no Symptoms of Suppuration had
already appeared, on whatever Day of the Disorder it happened, I
ordered plentiful Bleeding, the same as in recent Cases; and never
found any Disadvantage, but often great Service from this Practice.

When the Sharpness of the Pain was gone, and the Pulse became soft,
very often a dull Pain remained for some Time in the Part.--In some
Cases a brisk Purge removed it;--in others, cupping above the Part,
and afterwards rubbing it with the volatile Liniments, did
Service;--in others, gentle Opiates at Night, especially where there
was a tickling Cough;--and in one or two Cases, this Pain did not go
away, till the Patient was ordered to drink every Day for some Time, a
Quart of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla with the antimonial Wine.

In the Course of this Disorder, if a kindly Moisture broke out on the
Skin, which gave Relief, this was encouraged by the Use of mild warm
Liquors; or if the Patient began to spit up a viscid or yellowish
Mucus, we endeavoured to keep up the Expectoration by the Use of mild
Pectorals; and if a Purging came on, w