Note 21 — Chapter IV

The Use of Acids, in Inflammations of the Breast, requires no little Consideration. Whenever the sick Person has an Aversion to them; when the Tongue is moist, the Stomach is heavy and disordered, and the Habit and Temperament of the Patient is mild and soft; when the Cough is very sharp without great Thirst, we ought to abstain from them. But when the Inflammation is joined to a dry Tongue, to great Thirst, Heat and Fever, they are of great Service. Slices of China Oranges sprinkled with Sugar may be given first; a light Limonade may be allowed afterwards; and at last small Doses of the Mixture, Nº. 10. if it becomes necessary. E. L.—I have chosen to retain this Note of the Editor of Lyons, from having frequently seen the Inefficacy, and sometimes, I have even thought, the ill Effects of Acids in Peripneumonies and Pleurisies, in a Country far South of Swisserland; and where these Diseases are very frequent, acute and fatal. On the other hand I shall add the Substance of what Dr. Tissot says on this Head in a Note to his Table of Remedies, wherein he affirms, that he has given in this Disease very large Doses of them, rising gradually from small ones, and always with great Success; intreating other Physicians to order this Acid (the Spirit of Sulphur) in the same large Doses which he directs in this Chapter, and assuring himself of their thanks, for its good Consequences—Now the only ill Effect I can surmize here, from shewing this Diversity of Opinion in these two learned Physicians, and my own Doubts, is, that the Subjects of this Disease in Country Places may prove somewhat confused and irresolute by it, in their Conduct in such Cases. But as all of us certainly concur in the great Intention of doing all possible Good, by the extensive Publication of this Treatise, I shall take leave to observe that in this Disease, and in Pleurisies, more solid Benefit has been received in Carolina, Virginia, &c. from the Use of the Seneka Rattle-snake Root, than from any other Medicine whatever. Bleeding indeed is necessarily premised to it; but it has often saved the Necessity of many repeated Bleedings. This Medicine, which is termed in Latin, the Polygala Virginiana, is certainly rather of a saponaceous attenuating Quality, and betrays not any Marks of Acidity, being rather moderately acrid. There will be Occasion to mention it more particularly in the subsequent Chapter, as such a Liberty can need no Apology to any philosophical Physician. K.