Page:A Treatise upon the Small-Pox.pdf/96

68 Throat; then a Prognostick may be given, that it is like to go ill with the Patient, and that his Life is in great Danger: For as when that Portion of the malignant Materials designed by Nature to be lodged in the Face and Superficies of the Body, are either not wholly thrown out, or if cast out, do not attain a due Maturity, the Patient is in great Hazard from that Part that remains unexpelled; so when the other Part of the noxious or putred Materials, which by Nature's Intention, but imperfect Effort, by Reason of the Narrowness and Driness of the Strainers, are not sufficiently discharged by the Mouth, the malignant Remains in the Blood will, with the utmost Difficulty, any other Way be exterminated, but will grow thicker and more viscous, and stick fast in the Glands, till the Patient is almost suffocated and strangled; and that which continues unexcluded will, by increasing the Fever, oppress the Spirits, and often prove fatal. To assist Nature in this Distress, by keeping the Juices thin, and so preventing their viscous and clammy Quality, that they may with more Ease pass the Salival Glands, plentiful Dilution by all proper Liquors is very necessary, Gargarisms and soft Decoctions frequently injected by the Syringe into the Mouth, that may affect the Throat and free the Strainers from the thick Humours adhering to them, are very profitable; and if short laborious Breathing likewise accompany this Symptom, then