ly the
same Treatment, and are often complicated together.

OF THE COUGH and CONSUMPTION.

Coughs were very frequent during the Winter, and when the Weather was
wet and cold. They were often accompanied with Pains of the Breast;
and, when neglected, Obstructions, Tubercles, and Suppurations, were
apt to form in the Lungs, and the Disease to end in a Consumption, or
_Phthisis Pulmonalis_.

When Coughs were slight, guarding against further Cold, and the Use of
mild Pectorals and warm Drinks, removed them. But when the Patient
complained of a Pain and Tightness about the Breast, it was always
necessary to take away more or less Blood; and after Bleeding to give
some of the mild Pectorals, such as the Sperma Ceti or oily Mixtures;
and, if a Fever attended, to join the Use of Nitre, or of the saline
or mindereri Draughts; and, if a tickling Cough was troublesome, to
give frequently a Tea Spoonful of the oily Linctus, acidulated either
with the Spirit of Vitriol, or the _oxymel scilliticum_. The mild
Diaphoretics, such as the mindereri Draughts, given along with warm
Drinks, to promote a free Perspiration, or Sweat, were used with
Advantage; when the Patients kept in Bed, and lay in Wards which had
Stoves in them.

If the Cough and Pain of the Breast were not relieved by these Means,
the Patient was bled a second Time, and a Blister applied to the Side
immediately after; which often removed most of the Complaints. When it
did not, we gave the pectoral Decoction for common Drink; and if there
was a Shortness or Difficulty of Breathing, the squill Mixture, or
_lac ammoniacum_, with Oxymel; and occasionally gentle Purges: And if
at any Time of the Disorder the Tightness and Pain of the Breast
returned violent, we took away some Blood, no other Remedy affording
Relief.

When there was little or no Fever, and a thin Rheum kept up a tickling
Cough, nothing had a better Effect than to add some Drops of the
_tinctura thebaica_, or some of the _elixir paregoricum_, to the
oleagenous or squill Mixtures; or to give an Opiate Draught or Pill at
Bed-Time, which eased the Cough, and procured the Patient Rest.

At all Times it was necessary, when the Cough was violent, attended
with Pains of the Breast, to keep the Patients on low Diet; and in as
free and pure Air as the Nature of the Hospitals would admit of; for
we often found that those Men who had laboured long under obstinate
Coughs, which threatened Consumptions in