as of a blackish
Colour and of a loose Texture, and the Serum in a large Proportion. By
the 2d of _March_ his Gums had recovered their natural Firmness and
Texture, and the scorbutic Spots and Pains of the Legs were gone, and
he had recovered his Strength; the only remaining Complaint was a
little Swelling about the Ankles, for which he continued the same
Course, and took a Dose or two of Physic. By the 16th of _March_ all
these Symptoms were gone, and he was dismissed the Hospital free from
all Complaints. I saw him well the last Week in _May_; and he told me,
he had had no scorbutic Symptom since he left the Hospital.

[110] Dr. _Lind_, who has wrote one of the best Treatises on
this Disorder, and who had a great Deal of Practice himself,
says, "When first the Patient complains of an Itching and a
Spunginess of the Gums, with loose Teeth, either a Tincture
of the Bark in Brandy, or aluminous Medicines, will be found
serviceable in putting a Stop to the Beginning Laxity of
these Parts." When the Putrefaction increases, he recommends
the Use of some of the mineral Acids. See his _Treatise on
the Scurvy_, part ii. chap. v. p. 201.--_Van Swieten_ says,
he never found any Thing answer better than a Gargle made of
four Ounces of Elder or Rose Water, acidulated with a Drachm
of the Spirit of Sea Salt; and where the Gums were very
putrid and gangrened, he has been obliged to touch them
slightly with the pure Acid Spirit, and some Hours after to
have them washed with the Gargle just mentioned. Vide
_Comment._ vol. III. p. 629, sect. 1163.

If the Spunginess of the Gums sprout out into a luxuriant
Fungus, it is sometimes requisite to cut such Funguses away,
and to wash the Sores frequently with gentle astringent or
acid Liquors.

[111] Dr. _Huxham_ observes, that, after the Disease has
continued some Time, the Blood appears a mere Gore as it
were, not separating into Serum and Crassamentum as usual,
but remaining an uniform half-coagulated Mass, generally of a
more livid or darker Colour than common; though sometimes it
continues long very florid; but it always putrifies soon. See
his _Essay on Fevers_, chap. v.

There is something very particular in the Nature of this
Disorder, according to an Observation of Dr. _Lind_'s; who
says, "That the Scurvy is a Disease in its Nature very
opposite to that o