Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/411

Rh and unceasing attendance on such as were attacked with this dreadful malady.

As soon as the first symptoms of infection are perceived, the person thus afflicted should be removed to a close room, and placed over the frame of a vessel containing hot coals; while his body is rubbed very briskly with a clean sponge dipped in warm olive-oil, in order to excite a profuse sweat. During this operation, it will be necessary to burn sugar and juniper-berries, as these will produce a thick smoke, and greatly promote the effect. Such friction, however, ought not to exceed three or four minutes; as it will, in general, be followed by copious perspiration; but, in the contrary case, the body must be wiped with a warm, dry, cloth; tepid drinks, such as elder-flower-tea, &c. should be administered to the patient; and the rubbing once every day continued, till the disease assume a favourable appearance.

In performing this simple operation, the greatest caution is requisite to guard against taking cold: such parts of the body, therefore, as are not immediately under friction, must be covered, and the linen remain unchanged, till the perspiration has entirely subsided.—It does not appear to be necessary, that the eyes should be touched; though the other tender parts of the body must be rubbed somewhat gently; and the whole process daily repeated till the patient evidently begin to recover. If tumors arise, they ought to be frequently, but softly, managed, till they become disposed to suppurate by means of emollient plasters.

Count (from whose pamphlet, published on this subject, at Vienna, in 1797, we have extracted the directions above stated), observes that the friction ought not to be delayed, till the mass of the blood, and the nerves, are affected; or till a diarrhœa ensue; as at so late a period, there will be little prospect of a cure: the patient, however, should not even in such case be neglected; for some have been recovered by the assiduous application of the means proposed; though the disease had already made great progress.

During the first four or five days, the patients must observe a very sparing diet; thus, the pious monk above mentioned allows them only a small quantity of vermicelli boiled in equal parts of vinegar and water, without the addition of any salt, or other spice. He likewise gave them, six or seven times in the course of the day, a small spoonful of sour cherries, preserved in sugar; and, when his patients were on the list of convalescents, he permitted them to take, on the fifth morning, a cup of good Mokha coffee, together with a piece of toasted biscuit, prepared with sugar; which quantity he doubled, according to their strength and improving state of health.

The proportion of oil to be employed at each friction cannot he ascertained with precision; but, in general, a pint or pound was sufficient: its salutary effects are not merely confined to the cure of persons infected with the plague; but it is likewise successfully used as a preventive. Hence Father directs the attendants to rub themselves in a similar manner, previously to their attempting the unction of others; to avoid the current of the patient's breath; and not to entertain the least apprehension of becoming infected. Farther, they