Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/410

388] stated under the article ; to shun intemperance of every kind, and not to indulge in fear, or any of the depressing passions. Moderate exercise; frequent bathing in cold water; gentle purgatives; fumigations; the prudent use of wine and spirituous liquors; and, lastly, tonic and antiseptic medicines, especially the Peruvian bark, and camphor, have occasionally been found effectual preservatives.

Cure.—The remedies are as various as the causes producing the disorder. Bleeding, gentle laxatives, and mild emetics, have been employed with advantage, both in the earlier and advanced stages of the plague. Camphor, sudorifics, particularly opiates, when combined with small portions of neutral salts; the Peruvian bark, and acids, have all proved of great service.

Beside these general remedies, there are certain specifics which seem to deserve attention. In some observations lately published by M., a Swedish physician, on the plague that depopulated Tunis, we are informed, that the remedies he employed with the greatest success, were the flowers of the German Leopards-bane, and purified opium.—In the year 1771, a composition was published by the Medical Board at Moscow, and which was denominated the Fumigating Powder: it is said to have been of singular efficacy in preventing infection, and is prepared in the following manner.

Powder of the first strength:—Take six pounds of juniper-leaves, a similar quantity of juniper-berries, ears of wheat, guaiacum-wood, and sulphur; eight pounds of nitre, and two pounds of Smyrna tar, or myrrh: these ingredients are to be carefully incorporated, by pounding or bruising them in proper vessels.

Powder of the second strength:—Take five pounds of southernwood, and four pounds of the leaves of juniper, both cut into small pieces; four pounds of nitre, two pounds and a half of sulphur, and one pound and a half of Smyrna tar, or myrrh. Let these be duly mixed together, as above directed.

Odoriferous Powder:—Take three pounds of the root, called Sweet-Flag, cut into small pieces; one pound of frankincense; half a pound of storax coarsely pounded; half a pound of rose-flowers; one pound of yellow amber; and one pound and a half of common salt-petre, both pounded; one pound of Smyrna tar, or myrrh; and a quarter of a pound of sulphur. These articles should be properly mixed.

The Commissioners, who published these compositions, observe; that the cones of pines or firs may be substituted for the guaiacum, if the latter cannot be easily procured; the common tar may likewise be employed instead of that obtained from Smyrna, or of myrrh; and mugwort may be used in the room of wormwood.

The most successful remedy, however, that has hitherto been discovered for curing the plague, is friction of the infected with warm olive-oil, which we have incidentally mentioned. It was first suggested by Mr., late Consul General in Egypt, and then adopted by Father , who has exposed himself for nearly 30 years to infection, by his thropic