Use in restoring the Strength, and removing
those rheumatic Pains which remained after Fevers, and other
Disorders; but, in other Cases, it had little Effect.

When the Rheumatism continues long, and has taken deep Root,
_Sydenham_[69] advises to bleed from Time to Time, at some Weeks
Distance; which, he says, will either entirely remove the Disease, or
bring it to that Condition, that the Remains of it will be easily
extirpated by an Issue; and giving some of the volatile Salts in
_Canary_ Wine, Morning and Evening. I have always observed in
rheumatic Cases, which continued long, that, after free Evacuations,
the Patients received more Benefit from a mild low Diet, continued for
some Time, and the Use of diluting Decoctions with mild Diaphoretics,
while they took gentle Purges once or twice a Week, than from any
other Remedies.

[69] Vide _Sydenham. Opera._ sect. vi. cap. 5.

I have given Half an Ounce of Soap a Day, for a considerable Time, in
some old rheumatic Cases, in the Manner recommended by the late Dr.
_John Clerk_ of _Edinburgh_, as mentioned by Dr. _Pringle_; and, I
think, with Advantage; but have not had sufficient Trials to ascertain
the Merits of this Medicine.

Dr. _Sydenham_, in treating of the Rheumatism, which he calls
scorbutic, says; that after it had resisted Bleeding, Purging, low
Diet, and other Remedies, he has cured it by giving thrice a Day two
Drachms of an Electuary made of _conserv. cochlear. horten. recent.
unc._ ij. _lujul. unc._ i. _pulv. ar. comp. drachm_ vi. _cum syrup.
aurant._ q. s. drinking after it three Ounces of a Water drawn from
_Brunswick_ Beer, and some of the antiscorbutic Plants.

There is no Disorder which Soldiers are so apt to counterfeit as the
Rheumatism, when ever the Duty in the Field is severe; but while there
is no Fever or Size in the Blood, or other evident Marks of the
Distemper, and the Men look healthy, there is always Reason to suspect
Imposture.

OF THE Autumnal Remitting Fever.

The Remitting Autumnal Fever, called by the Antients [Greek: syneches],
was also one of the most frequent Disorders during the Campaign.

This Fever is observed in most Countries, after the Juices have been
highly exalted by the Heat of Summer; and People are exposed to the
Heats of Mid-Day, and to the cold Damps of the Night. We observe it
every Year in the Neighbourhood of _London_, especially among the
labouring People, who work in the Fields, towards the E