the patient. It is in this
form of scarlatina that the greatest mistakes are committed by
physicians unacquainted with the virtues of water, and that our
hydriatic method shows itself in all its glory; for where there is an
abundance of heat, water cannot only be safely applied, but it is also
sure to bring relief. It is in this form of the disease that the cold
affusions recommended by Currie and his followers, have shown themselves
so beneficial, and that the wet-sheet, used properly and perseveringly,
is almost infallible.

67. TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER--DOUBLE SHEET--CHANGING SHEET.

The water for the wet-sheet pack, in this violent form, ought to be
cold; in summer it should be iced down to 46-48 deg. Fahr. The sheet ought
to be coarse or doubled, in order that it should retain more water, and
it should not be wrung out very tight. In a thick wet-sheet the patient
will be better cooled than in a thin sheet, and he will be able to stay
longer in it before changing. It may be advisable, however, with very
young and rather delicate persons, not to double the sheet about the
feet, as they might be apt to remain cold, which would send the blood
more to the head. But, although the patient will feel easier in the pack
for a while, the heat and fever will soon increase again, and, in
proportion as the sheet grows warmer, he will become more and more
restless, and the changing of the sheet will become indispensable. When
the symptoms increase again, in the second pack, the sheet is changed a
second time, and so on till the patient perspires and becomes relieved
for a couple of hours or longer; which usually happens in the third or
fourth sheet. After the first, every following sheet is wrung out
tighter and tighter, and the last one may be taken single, or doubled
only at its upper end.

68. LENGTH OF PACK--PERSPIRATION.

To make quite sure of the reaction, the single sheet may be tried first,
except in exceedingly violent cases, and the double sheet may be
resorted to, if the single sheet prove inefficient. Or, should there be
any doubt, the double sheet may be dipped in water of a higher
temperature than that given above, say 55 to 60 deg.. With young and
delicate children I prefer this course, especially if they be very
excitable, and the shock of very cold water may be expected to be too
much for their nerves. In these matters some discrimination should be
used: it is always better we should keep on the safe sid