Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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Diaphoretics

4th. The linnin [linen] of the patient and his bed clothes should be often changed, it is an old saying a clean shirt makes a man feel like a gentleman. The filthy sweat too long retained becomes the cause of morbid action and prevents the usual flow.

5th. Guard against the sudden suppression of the evacuation particularly in acute diseases, partial exposure to cold is improper.

6th. Avoid purging in low stages unless the disease particularly require it.

7th. As the action of the cutaneous vessels is always in an inverse ratio to that of the urinary organs, the diuretic action should be seduously avoided.

8th. In cronic rheumatism and other cronic disease where it becomes necessary to keep up a constant regular Diaphoresis flannel should be worn next the skin instead of linnin, which

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Diaphoretics

in the brain effusions of lymph of a pus like nature, and taking all the symptoms into consideration it appears to be Typhus combined with Erysipelatous Inflamation. "Treatment". The Practitioners seem generally to have adopted two modes of practice, "first" the profuse use of direct stimulants, and the "Second" The sweating plan. I have tried both and have now no hessitation in deciding in favor of the latter, and in fact nearly all agree to it now. Among the most active means to procure diaphoresis none are so efficacious as the Dovers Powders, Wine Whey, fomentations, and hot Toddy. I have always affected a cure where I could induce perspiration, when any topical affection supervene blisters to the parts will remove it, in the last stage the free exhibition of Vol. Alkali is the "Anchor of Hope" 10 grains

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Diaphoretics

first means are accomplish'd by heat apply'd to the surface, in the shape of heated bricks, bottles filled with hot water, and keeping the patient well cover'd with clothes &c giving at the same time wine whey, warm diluents & internally, when a prompt & profuse Diaphoresis is wanted, heat should be apply'd under the arm pit, between the thighs, and against the sides of the body; to relieve local pain flannel bags filled with hot sand, salt, oats, or ashes, should be apply'd, or what I have often succeeded with, a large poultice of meal mush apply’d warm to the part;

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Diaphoretics

many prefer exciting a sweat by steem or vapor, this may be done by pouring vinegar on hot bricks and introducing them under the bed clothes.

Baths. Another method of inducing Diaphoresis is to imerse the patient into a bath, there are of two kinds, Tepid, Warm, and Hot. The first of which is apt to produce chilliness, and completely to counteract the sweat being of a temperature less than the natural heat. The 2d being 104 degrees of Farenheit and consequently hotter than the temperature of the body, is admirably adapted to many diseases, as chronic rheumatism, Epilepsy, Palsy, Chlorosis, and lastly to all diseases depending on a torpor of the Lymphatics as scrophula &c. In Dysentary and Diarrhea, where more energetic means are wanted the bath may be render’d

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Diaphoretics

more stimulating by the addition of salt or strong grog. The length of time the patient must remain in the bath must be regulated by his strength and the temperature. Thus in a warm bath he may remain half an hour, but few can stay in the hot more than ten or fifteen minutes, the patient after coming out should regain the natural heat gradually using frictions of warm dry flannel. But external heat does not always produce it. In Typhus Fever attended with a constriction of the skin all external applications are Set at defiance, particularly of a heating nature, the cold will often produce a diaphoresis. When I was in Europe it was a constant