Blood.

On the Patient's being first taken ill, if he was plethoric or
feverish, or complained of Pain, attended with Sickness and Vomiting,
some Blood was taken away. Next Day we gave twenty-five or thirty
Grains of Rhubarb in a saline Draught, and afterwards the common
saline and other cooling Medicines, till the Fever was abated. If the
Pain and Fever did not abate, a Vein was opened a second Time, and a
few Drops of the _tinctura thebaica_ were added to the saline
Draughts, while emollient Clysters were frequently administered, and
the Stomach and Belly fomented with Flannels dipped in warm emollient
Decoctions.

When the Pain and Fever were gone, we then gave a gentle Vomit in the
Evening, and next Day a Dose of Rhubarb; and afterwards so much of
the _pilulae saponaceae cum rheo_ daily as kept the Body open; or the
saline Draughts with five or six Grains of Rhubarb in each, or such a
Quantity as answered the same Purpose as the Pills; and from Time to
Time repeated the Emetic[93] and Purge.

[93] Vomits are reckoned amongst the most efficacious
Remedies in this Disorder, and I have often seen good Effects
follow their Use.--_Janet Crags_, a Woman thirty Years of
Age, was, on the 21st of _December_ 1758 admitted into _St.
George_'s Hospital for a Jaundice of some Months Continuance.
Her Eyes and Skin were not of the common icteric Colour, but
of a dark livid yellow, for which Reason both she and the
Nurses termed her Disorder the Black Jaundice. She at first
complained of a Difficulty of Breathing, and a Weight and
Oppression about the Region of the Liver, for which she was
blooded, took some Doses of Physick, and the Soap Pills with
Rhubarb; but these produced no Change in her Complaints. On
the 29th she had a Cough, and complained much of Sickness and
Difficulty of Breathing, for which she was ordered a Vomit,
and afterwards to take the Squill Draught Morning and
Evening, which occasioned a Purging and Gripes. On the 5th of
_January_ 1759, the Looseness still continuing, I ordered her
to leave off the Use of the Squill Draughts, and to take only
some Rhubarb in an oily Draught every Night at Bed-Time. On
the 8th, tho' the Purging had increased, I did not chuse to
check it, as I suspected it would prove a Crisis to the
Disorder, and therefore only ordered her the Cordial Draughts
and Wine to support her Strength. The L