to five minutes, when the skin will have become reddened and warm. This must be immediately followed briskly by a coarse dry sheet or dry cloths, until the surface is perfectly dry and in a complete glow. The patient is then immediately dressed for exercise, or for bed, as the case may be. The temperature of the water used should correspond with the strength of the patient. Those who are so feeble as to render it necessary for them to remain in bed, can be often much benefitted by a judicious rub. bing while in bed. This is a highly useful and convenient application, and, if judiciously made, will produce nearly, if not quite all, the good effects of a bath, and will often be found much more convenient of application.

Wet-Sheet, or Lein-tuck.

The first reclining upon this sheet will be disagreeable. If it is to be used to reduce the temperature of the body, as in high fevers, it is well to have it of coarse quality, in order to hold more water. To apply it, the mattress of the bed or couch should be made bare, one or more large thick woollen blankets next, and the sheet last, upon which the patient is to lie. He is to be quickly and snug. ly enveloped, from the neck to the feet, first with the wet sheet and then with the blanket. These adjusted with care, the packing is finished by covering over the whole a light feather bed, and a quilt, or a sufficiency of other bedding without the feather bed. It will be well for the

patient to drink a little water occasionally; and especially if there be great thirst, it should be taken often, but not in too great quantity.

In cases of acute rheumatism, or gout, where it would be troublesome for the patient to be moved, or in any case where it might be better for the patient to remain quiet for a longer time, two or three sheets can be used instead of one, to act as a refrigerant for a longer time. A long towel from the armpit down, upon each side, has been recommended, so that the whole body be exposed to the wet linen.

In cases of acute fever, the sheets must be changed according to the degree of heat, every quarter or half hour, until the dry hot skin becomes softer, and more prone to perspiration. This is usually the first process of the day, and is repeated or not, according to circumstances.

The wet sheet process is of great advantage in a variety of chronic as well as acute cases; such as are attended with an irritable and inactive skin, and in a multitude of skin-diseases. A frequent change of the sheets in such cases would be unnecessary as a rule. It will sometimes be well to let the temperature raise until perspiration takes place. Determination of blood to the head is to be removed or prevented by cold applica. tions to it. Should the feet remain cold in the wet cloths, they should be extricated and wrapped in dry cloths only. At the close of the process the patient should be briskly rubbed until the surface is dry.

"The wet sheet produces two diametrically opposite effects, accordingly as it is used. If it be changed frequently, as fast as the patient becomes warm, as, for instance, in ca.

ses of fever, almost any amount of heat may be abstracted slowly and gradually from the body. But if the patient remain for half an hour, the most delicious sensation of warmth, and a gentle breathing perspiration are produced; while all pains and uneasiness are removed. It produces all the soothing influence upon the entire system which is produced by a warm poultice on an inflamed surface."-JOHNSON.

For very delicate patients it has been suggested that the sheet be pressed out of tepid water, as introductory to the cold.

Respecting the application of cold water over the whole body: "Let us now suppose that heat is abstracted from the whole surface of the body; in this case the whole action of the oxygen will be directed to the skin, and in a short time the change of matter must increase throughout the body. Fat, and all such matters as are capable of combining with oxygen, which is brought to them in larger quantity than usual, will be expelled from the body in the form of oxydized compounds."-LIEBIG.

"If therefore the body contain any morbific matters, these will be expelled in the form of such compounds."-JOHNSON.

According to Liebig, the same results may sometimes be accomplished by a very scanty diet.

Wet Bandages (Umschlags.)

Locally, water may be applied in various ways. Ban

dages are made to produce the same effect upon any part of the body, as the lein-tuck upon the whole body. As cool. ing or refrigerant applications, they should be applied of a size suited to the part inflamed, folded from three or four to eight times, dipped in very cold water, and are to be renewed from every three or four to ten minutes, according to the necessities of the case.

As to the effect of the various partial applications of cold water to the system, "they act by determining the force of oxygen from one part to another. They produce all the effects of both bleeding and blistering, except the pain."→→ JOHNSON.

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"If," says Liebig, we surround a part of the body with ice or snow, while the other parts are left in a natural state, there occurs, more or less quickly, in consequence of the loss of heat, an accelerated change of matter in the cooled part.

"The resistance of the living tissues to the action of oxygen is weaker at the cooled part than in the other parts; and this, in its effects, is equivalent to an increase of resis tance in these other parts the whole action of the inspired oxygen is exerted on the cooled part.

"In the cooled part of the body, the living tissues offer a less resistance to the chemical action of the inspired oxygen ; the power of the oxygen to unite with the elements of the tissues is, at this part, exalted.

"In the cooled part the change of matter, and with it the disengagement of heat, increases; while, in the other parts, the change of matter and liberation of heat decrease."

"And thus," says Dr. Johnson, "by the judicious use of

cold water alone, all the good effects of blistering and bleeding are most readily and certainly produced, without any of the bad effects. The bad effects of repeated bleeding in certain diseases are well known to medical men. We know perfectly well, that it often happens that a patient is saved by bleeding, from dying of an inflammation, only that he may die of a dropsy; that a patient is often saved by bleeding from dying of hæmorrhage from the lungs, only that he may die the sooner of a consumption."

Warming, or Stimulating Bandages.

These are applied by folding linen two or three times, and dipping them in cold water, or they may be made slightly tepid; they should be well pressed or wrung out, and are not to be changed until they begin to dry. They must be well adapted to the part, and also well secured from the action of the air by a dry bandage, which is better to be a non-conductor of heat, so that the part may be raised in temperatnre. The combined action of heat and moisture thus produced is highly beneficial in a great variety of indurations, swellings, tumors, &c. In the water-cure, they are also much used in derangements of the digestive organs, affections of the abdomen, diseases of the liver, &c.

For the abdomen, a convenient form is made by folding and sewing together two or three thicknesses of linen, of sufficient length to pass round the body two or more times, the width varying according to the size of the person; one end is wet and wrung out, enough in length to cover the ab. domen, or to pass round the body if desirable, and then ap.