Diabetes.

THIS disease has been, and is yet, very often fatal under ancient practice. The old method of treating it by absorbents, is now totally discarded, excepting by a few obstinate antique practioners, who value their antiquated education more than the lives of their patients; who are too wise to learn any thing, ande, I had almost said, to know any thing. But, happily for mankind, it is now known to be easily removed, by treating with diffusables, such as promote secretions, perspiration, &c.

The excessive action of the kidneys in secreting urine from the blood, is removed or prevented by promoting the secretion of the perspirable vapour: and if you have nothing that will produce this effect easier and quicker than the electric shocks, you may use them, and they will answer the purpose; or if all other means prove ineffectual, yet will not this mean. The shocks may, and must be passed in every part of the system daily, till the disease is removed, and health restored. About forty shocks may be daily given; but they must be of the moderate kind. When this disease is suffered to remain long, indigestion will be very likely to ensue, and costiveness, which will requite some other aid to remove, besides electricity. But, even in this state, it is not always safe to depend on physic altogether: it will sometimes prove fatal; as also in a dry bilious cholic. In this situation, recourse must be had to a peculiar diet, and that of the soluble kind, such as meat broiled on fire-coals, and mutton broth; and, in a desperate case, the entrails of a sheep, boiled to a pulp-like consistence, and with a trifle of salt, will answer an excellent purpose in healing, sheating and promoting, and inducing an easy action in the passages, and will make a repetition of cathartics unnecessary. But what is the ultimatum of treating a confirmed state of costiveness with common purges? True, they grant a temporary relief, but with more and more difficulty, as the repetition is made; and that, because they diminish the already too scanty nutriment of the system. This general deficiency effects a particular deficiency, at least sometimes, of bile, pancreatic juice, gastric fluid and saliva, a due degree of which are necessary to support the digestion. The discharge of the digestive fluids into the stomach, duodenum, &c. may be promoted by the shocks; but to continue a diminution of their source is imprudent: A better method appears to be, to supply the most nutricious food possible, and that of the easiest digestion, soluble and healing to the bowels, such as above recommended, with brandy and molasses for constant drink. Let this regimen be constantly observed, and gentle shocks repeated daily, till the patient is restored to health from a diabetes, or confirmed costiveness in

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