This may be applied by means of pledgets of linen; or part of it may be made into a poultice, with crum of stale bread. Saturnine poultices ought always to be applied cold; because we thus receive both the benefit of the cold, and of the lead. The directions which have already been given, with regard to the application of cold, are to be attended to here. Lead has been supposed to act as an astringent; but, if astringents were useful, alum would be more effectual than any of the preparations of lead. The vegetable acids have been considered as sedatives, and are generally employed in the cure of inflammation; but it would rather seem, as if they belonged to the class of agentes similes; for, in moderate quantities, they increase the appetite, &c. which no sedative, or agens dissimilis, ever does[13]: They also excite a general action, which is different from that induced by sedatives, and which is useful in curing many of the actions induced by these agents. We likewise find, that they are not serviceable, as local applications, in the cure of inflammation, unless in so far as they become the vehicle for applying cold. The surface is not very susceptible of their action; and, therefore, those who are inclined to continue their use, may do so without injury, and even with benefit, if they be cold; but then the same benefit will be derived from cold water. [13] Like other agents of this kind, they may kill speedily, if drunk in too great quantities; and, after death, the vitality, from the previous great action, is found completely destroyed. Alcohol is likewise considered by some as a sedative, and introduced as a remedy, in the enumeration of those which are applicable in inflammation[14]; but, whatever its use may be in the inflammatio debilis, it must be allowed to be evidently hurtful in the inflammatio valida. [14] Hunter on Inflammation, p. 350.