Sec. 15. But supposing it were as certain, as it is erroneous, that Sweating was beneficial at the Beginning of Diseases, the Means which they use to excite it would not prove the less fatal. The first Endeavour is, to stifle the Patient with the Heat of a close Apartment, and a Load of Covering. Extraordinary Care is taken to prevent a Breath of fresh Air's squeezing into the Room; from which Circumstance, the Air already in it is speedily and extremely corrupted: and such a Degree of Heat is procured by the Weight of the Patient's Bed-cloaths, that these two Causes alone are sufficient to excite a most ardent Fever, and an Inflammation of the Breast, even in a healthy Man. More than once have I found myself seized with a Difficulty of breathing, on entering such Chambers, from which I have been immediately relieved, on obliging them to open all the Windows. Persons of Education must find a Pleasure, I conceive, in making People understand, on these Occasions, which are so frequent, that the Air being more indispensably necessary to us, if possible, than Water is to a Fish, our Health must immediately suffer, whenever that ceases to be pure; in assuring them also, that nothing corrupts it sooner than those Vapours, which continually steam from the Bodies of many Persons inclosed within a little Chamber, from which the Air is excluded. The Absurdity of such Conduct is a self-evident Certainty. Let in a little fresh Air on these miserable Patients, and lessen the oppressing Burthen of their Coverings, and you generally see upon the Spot, their Fever and Oppression, their Anguish and Raving, to abate. Sec. 16. The second Method taken to raise a Sweat in these Patients is, to give them nothing but hot things, especially Venice Treacle, Wine, or some [15] _Faltranc_, the greater Part of the Ingredients of which are dangerous, whenever there is an evident Fever; besides Saffron, which is still more pernicious. In all feverish Disorders we should gently cool, and keep the Belly moderately open; while the Medicines just mentioned both heat and bind; and hence we may easily judge of their inevitable ill Consequences. A healthy Person would certainly be seized with an inflammatory Fever, on taking the same Quantity of Wine, of Venice Treacle, or of _Faltranc_, which the Peasant takes now and then, when he is attacked by one of these Disorders. How then should a sick Person escape dying by them? Die indeed he _generally_ does, and sometimes with astonishing Speed. I have published some dreadful Instances of such Fatality some Years since, in another Treatise. In fact they still daily occur, and unhappily every Person may observe some of them in his own Neighbourhood.