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MCXXXVIII.

I have now mentioned the feveral remedies which I think adapted to the cure of apoplexy arifing from compreffion, and should next proceed to treat of the cure of apoplexy arifing from those causes that directly destroy the mobility of the nervous power. But many of those causes are often fo powerful, and thereby fo fuddenly fatal in their effects, as hardly to allow of time for the ufe of remedies; and fuch cafes therefore have been fo feldom the subjects of practice, that the

proper remedies are not fo well afcertained as to en

able me to say much of them here.

MCXXXIX.

When, however, the application of the causes (MCXV.) is not fo powerful as immediately to kill, and induces only an

apoplectic state, fome efforts are to be made to obviate the confequences, and to recover the patient and even in fome cases where the causes referred to, from the ceafing of the pulse and of refpiration, and from a coldness coming upon the body, have induced an appearance of death; yet, if these appearances have not continued long, there may be means of recovering the perfons to life and health. I cannot, indeed, treat this subject completely; but for the cure of apoplexy from several of the causes mentioned MCXV. fhall offer the following general directions.

1. When a poison capable of producing apoplexy has been recently taken into the ftomach, if a vomiting fpontaneously arifes, it is to be encouraged; or if it does not spontaneously come on, a vomiting is to be immediately excited by art, in order that the poifon may be thrown out as quickly as poffible. If, however, the poi

fon

fon has been taken into the ftomach long before its effects have appeared, we judge that, upon their appearance, the exciting of vomiting will be useless, and may perhaps be hurtful.

2. When the poison taken into the ftomach, or otherwife applied to the body, has already induced an apoplectic state, as thofe caufes do commonly at the fame time occafion'a ftagnation or flower motion of the blood in the veffels of the brain and of the lungs, fo it will generally be proper to relieve this congestion by taking fome blood from the jugular vein, or from the veins of the arm.

3. Upon the fame fuppofition of a congestion in the brain or lungs, it will generally be proper to relieve it by means of acrid glyfters producing fome evacuation from the intestines.

4. When these evacuations by bloodletting and purging have been made, the various

various ftimulants which have been commonly proposed in other cafes of apoplexy, may be employed here with more probability and fafety. One of the most effectual means of roufing apoplectics of this kind seems to be throwing cold water on several parts of the body, or washing the body all over with it.

5. Although the poifon producing apoplexy happens to be fo powerful as very foon to occafion the appearances of death above mentioned; yet if this ftate has not continued long, the patient may often be recoverable, and the recovery is to be attempted by the fame means that are directed to be employed for the recovery of drowned perfons, and which are now commonly known.

VOL. III.

M

CHAP.

CHA P. II.

OF PALSY.

MCXL.

PALSY is a disease consisting in a loss of the power of voluntary motion, but affecting certain parts of the body only, and by this it is distinguished from apoplexy (MXCIV). One of the most frequent forms of palfy is when it affects the whole of the muscles on one fide of the body, and then the disease is named a Hemiplegia.