disease was decidedly gastric and bilious. To use emetics or purgatives
indiscriminately would do much more harm than good; as, for instance,
during a congestive condition of the brain, the former, and with
inflammatory symptoms of the bowels, the latter, would be almost sure to
sacrifice the patient to the method.

36. THE AMMONIUM CARBONICUM,

recommended by Peart,[14] has been considered by many as a specific
capable of neutralizing the scarlatinous poison, whilst others have used
it only as a powerful tonic in torpid cases. Experience has shown that
it is not a specific, and that its use as a tonic, requiring a great
deal of care and discrimination, is a good deal more dangerous than the
mode of treatment I am going to recommend in cases where tonics are
required.

37. CHLORIDE OF LIME.

About the same opinion may be given on _Chloride of Lime_. As a gargle,
and taken internally, the aqua-chlorina has done good service in
malignant scarlatina, especially in putrid cases.

38. ACETIC ACID.

Brown[15] recommends diluted _Acetic Acid_ as a specific against all
forms of scarlatina. Experience, however, has not supported his
confidence in the infallibility of his remedy.

39. MINERAL ACIDS (MURIATIC ACID--PRESCRIPTIONS)

have also been used with good effect in some epidemics. _Muriatic acid_
I have frequently used myself for inflammation of the throat, in
connection with hydriatic treatment, and it has almost always
contributed to relieve the symptoms materially.[16]

40. FRICTIONS WITH LARD

were used already by Caelius Aurelianus,[17] and recently re-introduced
into practice, by Drs. Daene and Schneemann,[18] in Germany, and by Dr.
Lindsley,[19] in America. Even hydriatic physicians[20] have tried them
with some success. However, notwithstanding the strong recommendations
of the remedy on the part of the above named practitioners and others,
the efficacity of it as a general remedy for scarlet-fever has not been
confirmed. On the contrary, Berend[21] and Hauner[22] found that it did
not prevent desquamation, as it had been asserted, and even Richter
restricts his commendations to the vague assertion "that it seemed to
him as if the cases when he used the lard were made milder than they
would have been without it."

41. BELLADONNA.

The remedy which has attracted and still attracts in a very high degree
the attention of physicians and parents, is _Belladonna_. This remedy
was first introduced