Besides what I have already said, I must further add some other useful
remarks.
If the patient, as is generally the case, be weakened by the discharge
of blood, his strength must be supported with broths, with herbs boiled
in them, and with wine and water. Further, I order him every four hours
half a dram of the bark, till the pulse is sufficiently raised, and a
laudable suppuration comes on; he may then be allowed some meat, herbs,
and food of different kinds of grain; water, acidulated with vinegar or
spirit of vitriol, may serve for drink.
When the suppuration is too plentiful, and the wound appears disposed
to heal, I purge once or twice with Epsom salt, having previously for
a few days administered some absorbent powders. During the day I make
him drink a slight decoction of the bark, before and after meals a
little strengthening acid elixir; and in the evening, a small dose
of bark, mixed with a fourth part of an absorbent powder[22]. The
following is the composition of the strengthening elixir; _Half an
ounce of the extract of wormwood; of that of gentian, lesser centaury,
green oranges, and buckbean, of each a dram; rectified spirit of wine,
four ounces; and spirituous mint water, one ounce: Let the extracts be
dissolved in the spirits, over a gentle fire; strain them, then add to
the strained liquor, half an ounce of dulcified spirit of nitre, and
thirty drops of oil of vitriol_.