continue an equal number daily, or on the days of electrifying, through the whole process of treatment by electricity.
Suppose the consumption to be on the liver; suppose it ulcerated, tumified and inflamed; the first shocks will attenuate the humours,
separate the coagulations, or cause purulent matter to be discharged.
The stagnated mass of humours in the liver will be broken up, and the inflammation or hectic fever will subside; for this fever
is constituted through the irritation of a part, and its beginning is purely local.
Wherefore, after the body of tumefaction is removed, in general, the electrifications may be less frequent, repeated once in two days, or else four or five light shocks in a day:
but this must be partly discretionary; if the person feels easier, if the cough is lighter, and raise quicker and more freely, and
especially if the patient is very weak, forbear all the shocks that are possible; be careful not to induce any unnecessary debility.
But the shocks must be repeated so often as to cause the patient to raise easy and freely; after the shocks, give a dose of elixir paragoric, to stimulate
the vitals, and enable them to throw off their morbid contents; this may be repeated once or twice a day.
There is another excellent remedy, either for cough, consumption or jaundice; I learned it of an Indian, who was famous in the knowledge of roots and herbs, the productions
of America: that is, the bark of bay-berry root, a certain herb - looks much like a blue-berry bush, and produces a berry of which people
frequently make a tallow, called bay-berry tallow.
I have never known it to grow more than sixty miles from salt-water.
The first time I used this remedy, was in a consumption on the liver: it directly facilitated raising, when the person coughed; and the person had a sensation of
prickling, as he said, to the ends of his fingers: the use of it was contued about fourteen days, and the person got well.
A French doctor, who had visited him several times, was knowing to my manner of treatment; he turned to an author, written in French,
in which the tallow of this bush was recommended: but it was our joint opinion, that a decotion of the root bark was much better.
The roots being dug and washed clean, scrape off the bark: about a single handful may be put to a quart of water, and simmered over a fire till the substance is pretty well extracted,
which will require an hour; let the patient take a large tablespoonful twice a day, upon an empty stomach; but even some adults cannot bear quite so much,
and some can take more, and not offend their stomachs; this must be continued, but in lesser quantities, till well.
With this innocent and powerful mean, conjoin also the supernatural insolation, to keep up and invigorate the system: let insolation be as constant as possible:
if this is continued
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