of the disease. Daily as he repeats his visit he will find that his interference is not required, and will admire to see with what ease a disease of frightful power is disarmed, and rendered innoxious, if it be attacked in infancy, and not neglected or trifled with until it be nurtured to maturity, and allowed, at last, to put forth unchecked the strength of that maturity. If, after the abstraction of sixteen ounces of blood at the commencement of the attack, the vascular excitement be not completely subdued, in the course of three or four hours the same quantity must be again taken; and if, the next morning, that excitement continue, it will probably have already passed into inflammation; and, therefore, the vein must be once more opened, and the blood allowed to flow until the pain, wherever seated, be entirely removed. To check the disease, instead of subduing it, does not in the least diminish its future strength, and, by weakening the powers of life, it even hastens the period of mortality. Nothing is more common than the appearance of typhoid symptoms, on the second or third day after bleeding has done nothing but lessen the inflammatory action; whereas, had it been carried somewhat, and generally only a little, farther, the patient would have been convalescent at the very period when his danger becomes most imminent. In cases where general bleeding produces a decided impression on the inflammation, but does not stop it, cupping, or even leeches, will often complete what the lancet commenced. A due impression having been made upon the inflammation by bleeding, the subsequent treatment should consist of purgative medicines, given to the extent of producing three, or at most four stools in the twenty-four hours: beyond that number no advantage is obtained by purging; more frequent evacuations, indeed, weaken the patient, but not the disease. The best purgatives consist of one or two grains of calomel, with six or eight of rhubarb, repeated every night, or every other night, and followed the next morning by two drachms, or half an ounce of castor oil, or by the common senna draught. Cold sponging, if the skin be hot; acidulated drink, if there be thirst; perfect quiet, a dark room, a silent nurse, affording prompt attendance, with a noiseless step, a cheerful countenance, and no words—this, together with three tea-cups full of thin arrowroot or gruel, in the twenty-four hours, given in divided portions, at intervals of about two or three hours, comprises all else that will be required, or that will be useful, until the period of convalescence. Such is the simple, but most efficient treatment appropriate to the common fever of London and its neighbourhood (and I do not speak of the treatment proper for any forms of the disease as it exists elsewhere, and which I have not seen) in its ordinary degree of severity.[35]