Whenever it is possible, some of the emollient Applications No. 9, should be continually employed. A half Bath, or an entire Bath of warm Water, in which the Patient should remain an Hour, after sufficient Bleedings and many Glysters, affords the greatest Relief. I have seen a Patient, under the most acute Pains of the Loins, of the Hips, and of one Knee, put into one. He continued still under extreme Torment in the Bath, and on being taken out of it: but an Hour after he had been put to Bed, he sweated, to an incredible Quantity, for thirty six Hours, and was cured. The Bath should never be made use of, until after repeated Bleedings, or at least other equivalent Evacuations: for otherwise timed, it would aggravate the Disease. Sec. 172. The Pains are generally most severe in the Night; whence it has been usual to give composing soporific Medicines. This however has been very erroneous, as Opiates really augment the Cause of the Disease, and destroy the Efficacy of the proper Remedies: and, even not seldom, far from asswaging the Pains, they increase them. Indeed they agree so little in this Disease, that even the Patient's natural Sleep at the Invasion of this Complaint, is rather to his Detriment. They feel, the very Moment they are dropping asleep, such violent Jirks as awaken them with great Pain: or if they do sleep a few Minutes, the Pains are stronger when they awake. Sec. 173. The Rheumatism goes off either by Stool, by turbid thick Urine which drops a great Proportion of a yellowish Sediment, or by Sweats: and it generally happens that this last Discharge prevails towards the Conclusion of the Disease. It may be kept up by drinking an Infusion of Elder Flowers. At the Beginning however Sweating is pernicious. Sec. 174. It happens also, though but very seldom, that Rheumatisms determine by depositing a sharp Humour upon the Legs; where it forms Vesications, or a kind of Blisterings; which burst open and form Ulcers, that ought not to be healed and dried up too hastily; as this would occasion a speedy Return of the rheumatic Pains. They are disposed to heal naturally of themselves, by the Assistance of a temperate regular Diet, and a few gentle Purges. Sec. 175. Sometimes again, an Abscess is formed either in the affected Part, or in some neighbouring one. I have seen a Vineyard Dresser, who after violent Pains of the Loins, had an Abscess in the upper Part of the Thigh, which he neglected for a long Time. When I saw him, it was of a monstrous Size. I ordered it to be opened, when at once above three Pots of [41] Matter rushed out of it: but the Patient, being exhausted, died some Time after it.