Many other remedies used to be recommended, under the name of discutients, repellants, &c.; some of which have been formerly mentioned, when considering the ancient theories of inflammation; these, however, are now laid aside. But many practitioners still have an idea, that benefit will be derived from mechanically softening the parts by means of oils, or what they call emollients; and seem to consider, that poultices are chiefly useful for the same purpose; at least they only direct, that they shall be removed before they turn “stiff or hard.” But inflammation must be attributed to a different cause than increased attrition, and its cure must be effected by different agents from those which we employ for softening a piece of dead skin. Oils and liniments, in so far as they form a basis for other applications, or are used alongst with gentle friction, may be occasionally proper in the inflammatio assuefacta; but, in the inflammatio valida, they must be considered as absolutely useless. There are also some remedies, recommended with the intention of absorbing acrimonious excretions; such as, flour or magnesia, in erysipelas. But these seem to act entirely by allowing the action to run its course, without interruption, affording a softer defence than could otherwise be obtained. From the quick progress of violent cuticular inflammation, the applications which are usually made in other inflammations have been forbid here, and are said to be pernicious; but this rather appears to arise from the application not being properly timed, than from any peculiarity in the disease. It is not easy to give any good reason why cold saturnine solution, of a proper weakness[18], and sufficiently early applied, should not be useful; nor do we find, that they are in reality hurtful in simple erythema. Where this, however, attends wounds, or is not an original disease, these are improper; because it is in general, in these cases, an attendant upon the inflammatio debilis, or a symptom of it, and requires either to be let alone, or to have stimulating applications made to it, at the same time that we give bark internally[19]. [18] The solution must, upon the principles already laid down, be both weak, and only so cold as to reduce the sensation of the part to its natural condition, that is to say, so as to abate the morbid feeling of heat; because, if we make it otherwise, we may injure the powers of recovery, and perhaps induce gangrene. The application ought not to be so cold as to excite the sensation of coldness, at least in any considerable degree. [19] Bark is useful and necessary in every case of erysipelas, after the inflammatio valida has abated. Local applications, of a stimulating nature, are also useful at this period, as will afterwards be mentioned, when the inflammatio debilis comes to be considered.