Sec. 280. When the Distemper prevails in a severer Degree, if the Fever is very high, and the Pulse, at the same Time, strong or hard, it may be necessary to bleed once: but this should never be permitted in a large Quantity at a Time in this Disease; it being more adviseable, if a sufficient Quantity has not been taken at once, to bleed a second Time, and even a third, if the Fever should prove very high, as it often does, and that sometimes in so violent a Degree, as to render it extremely dangerous: and in some such Cases Nature has sometimes saved the Patients by effecting a large Hemorrhage, or Bleeding, to the Quantity of four or five Pounds. This Conduct a very intelligent and prudent Physician may presume to imitate; but I dare not advise the same Conduct to that Class of Physicians, for which only I write: it being safer for them to use repeated Bleedings in such Cases, than one in an excessive Quantity. These erisipelatous Fevers are often excited by a Person's being too long over-heated. After Bleeding the Patient is to be restrained to his Regimen; Glysters are to be given until there is a sensible Abatement of the Fever; and he should drink the Barley Water freely, No. 3. When the Fever is somewhat diminished, either the Purge No. 23 should be given, or a few Doses every Morning of Cream of Tartar No. 24. Purging is absolutely necessary to carry off the stagnant Bile, which is generally the first Cause of the violent Degrees of this Distemper. It may sometimes be really necessary too, if the Disease is very tedious; if the Loathing and Sickness at Stomach is obstinate; the Mouth ill-favoured, and the Tongue foul, (provided there be only a slight Fever, and no Fear of an Inflammation) to give the Medicines No. 34 or 35, which, in Consequence of the Agitation, the Shaking they occasion, remove these Impediments still better than Purges. It commonly happens that this Disease is more favourable after these Evacuations; nevertheless it is sometimes necessary to repeat them the next Day, or the next but one; especially if the Malady affects the Head. Purging is the true Evacuation for curing it, whenever it attacks this Part. By carrying off the Cause of the Disease, they diminish it, and prevent its worst Effects. Whenever, even after these Evacuations, the Fever still continues to be very severe, the Patient should take every two Hours, or occasionally, oftner, two Spoonfuls of the Prescription No. 10, added to a Glass of Ptisan.