he cuticle over tumors, or phlegmons, as warm
water, poultices, fomentations, or by confining the perspirable matter on
the part by cabbage-leaves, oil, fat, bee's-wax, plasters, oiled silk,
externally applied.

These decrease the natural heat and remove pains occasioned by excess of
irritative motions.

II. OBSERVATIONS ON THE TORPENTIA.

I. As the torpentia consist of such materials as are less stimulating than
our usual diet, it is evident, that where this class of medicines is used,
some regard must be had to the usual manner of living of the patient both
in respect to quantity and quality. Hence wounds in those, who have been
accustomed to the use of much wine, are very liable to mortify, unless the
usual potation of wine be allowed the patient. And in these habits I have
seen a delirium in a fever cured almost immediately by wine; which was
occasioned by the too mild regimen directed by the attendants. On the
contrary in great inflammation, the subduction of food, and of spirituous
drink, contributes much to the cure of the disease. As by these means both
the stimulus from distention of the vessels, as well as that from the
acrimony of the fluids, is decreased; but in both these respects the
previous habits of diet of the patients must be attended to. Thus if tea be
made stronger, than the patient has usually drank it, it belongs to the
article sorbentia; if weaker, it belongs to the torpentia.

II. Water in a quantity greater than usual diminishes the action of the
system not only by diluting our fluids, and thence lessening their
stimulus, but by lubricating the solids; for not only the parts of our
solids have their sliding over each other facilitated by the interposition
of aqueous particles; but the particles of mucaginous or saccharine
solutions slide easier over each other by being mixed with a greater
portion of water, and thence stimulate the vessels less.

At the same time it must be observed, that the particles of water
themselves, and of animal gluten dissolved in water, as the glue used by
carpenters, slide easier over each other by an additional quantity of the
fluid matter of heat.

These two fluids of heat and of water may be esteemed the universal
solvents or lubricants in respect to animal bodies, and thus facilitate the
circulation, and the secretion of the various glands. At the same time it
is possible, that these two fluids may occasionally assume an aerial form,
as in the cavity of the