of blood towards the head, and a strong, full pulse. In such case, if the pain should not abate on the friction of the parts affected, or on plunging the legs in warm water, it would be proper to take a few ounces of blood from the arm or foot. In many instances of acute pain, however, the pulse is considerably depressed, and the circulation of the fluids in general so languid, that the extremities appear rather pale and cold; yet, under these circumstances also, it may frequently become necessary to bleed the patient without delay, in order to restore an uniform action of the vessels; a point to be determined by the judicious practitioner.
From whatever cause an internal or deep-seated pain may arise, it will always be useful to allow the patient considerable portions of diluent drink, such as luke-warm water mixed with a fourth part of milk, or dococtions of barley, blanched oats, rice, &c.; to administer emollient clysters, consisting of six parts of warm water, two of oil, and one of soft sugar; to wrap the suffering part in soft flannel, or, if it can bear the application of heat, to cover the whole with a common poultice, made of the crumb of bread boiled in milk, with the addition of a little sweet oil; to place the patient, if his peculiar situation and circumstances admit of this practice, in a tepid bath, of a temperature not exceeding 98° of Fahrenheit; and, lastly, if none of these expedients should afford the desired relief, to resort to opium, or laudanum, as the last resource: one grain of the former, or twenty drops of the latter, with a proper quantity of diluent beverage, is generally a sufficient dose, to persons not accustomed to its use. But let us here observe, that even in very desperate paroxysms of pain, there is no necessity of giving an indiscriminate preference to opium, till every other method has been previously tried: thus, for instance, the most excruciating head and tooth-ach have often been suddenly dispelled, by applying horse-radish in fresh shavings, or bruised garlick, between two fine pieces of muslin, to the bend of both arms, or the hams.
Another simple remedy of equal efficacy, in periodical head-achs, especially in the morning, is a thin piece of fresh lemon-peel freed from the soft fibrous part, and placed on each of the temples, before the volatile oil be evaporated. These external applications are perfectly safe; for, as their action is confined to the part which they stimulate, they occasion a degree of irritation different from the original complaint, and thus produce a cessation of pain. In the last-mentioned case, we would also recommend the timely application of a few leeches, either to the temples, or rather to the lateral part of the neck, behind the ears, where the effect is almost instantaneous.
Lastly, opium may be called an almost divine remedy, when judiciously administered, in gangrenes, after painful amputations, fractures of bones, and, in short, every operation attended with spasms and great prostration of strength; but especially in diseases of the eyes, such as the cataract, or gutta serena.
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