Sharp and greasy Unctions or Ointments produce very bad Effects, and are equally dangerous. A _Caries_, a Rottenness of the Bones, has ensued upon the Use of a Medicine called, The Balsam of Sulphur with Turpentine. I was consulted in 1750, three Days before her Decease, about a Woman, who had long endured acute rheumatic Pains. She had taken various Medicines, and, among the rest, a considerable Quantity of a Ptisan, in which Antimony was blended with some purging Medicines, and a greasy spirituous Balsam had been rubbed into the Part. The Fever, the Pains, and the Dryness of the Skin soon increased; the Bones of the Thighs and Arms became carious: and in moving the Patient no more than was necessary for her Relief and Convenience, without taking her out of her Bed, both Thighs and one Arm broke. So dreadful an Example should make People cautious of giving or applying Medicines inconsiderately, even in such Diseases, as appear but trifling in themselves. I must also inform the Readers, there are some rheumatic Pains, which admit of no Application; and that almost every Medicine aggravates them. In such Cases the afflicted must content themselves with keeping the Parts affected from the Impressions of the Air, by a Flanel, or the Skin of some Animal with the Fur on. It is also more advisable sometimes to leave a sufferable and inveterate Pain to itself, especially in old or weakly People, than to employ too many Medicines, or such violent ones, as should affect them more importantly than the Pains did. Sec. 186. If the Duration of the Pains fixed in the same Place, should cause some Degree of Stiffness in the Joint affected, it should be exposed twice a Day to the Vapour of warm Water, and dried well afterwards with hot Linen: then it should be well chaffed, and lastly touched over with Ointment of Marsh-mallows. Pumping, if superadded to this Vapour, considerably increases its Efficacy. I directed, for a Case of this Sort, a very simple Machine of white Tin, or Lattin, which combined the Application of the Steam and the Pump. Sec. 187. Very young Children are sometimes subject to such violent and extended Pains, that they cannot bear touching in any Part, without excessive Crying. We must be careful to avoid mistaking these Cases, and not to treat them like Rheumatisms. They sometimes are owing to Worms, and go off when these have been discharged. __Chapter XII.__ _Of the Bite of a mad Dog._ __Sect.__ 188.