380. To Bruises, Sprains, Contusions, and local Inflammations, diluted Vinegar is a popular and useful application. An excellent "EVAPORATING LOTION" in these cases is formed of equal parts of Vinegar, Arrack, and Water. This forms also a good application to the head in the Headache and Delirium of Fever. The pains of Venomous Bites or Stings, e.g., of Scorpions, Centipedes, Wasps, Mosquitoes, &c., is often greatly relieved by the constant application of a piece of rag moistened with Vinegar.

381. To Milk or Mammary Abscesses warm Vinegar, perseveringly employed for twenty-four hours, is stated on good authority to be one of the best applications which can be used for relieving the congestion; it is particularly useful when the breasts are greatly and painfully distended with milk, and the earlier in the case it is employed, the greater are its chances of success.

382. Particles of Lime (Chunam) in the Eye are effectually dissolved and the pain eased by bathing the eye with diluted Vinegar, not strong enough to cause smarting; it requires to be introduced between the eyelids.

383.

Water.

Pání (Hind., Duk., Beng., Guz., Mah., Punj.) Áb, Sag (Kash.), Tanni, Jalam, Nír (Tam.), Jalam, Níllu (Tel.), Vellam (Mal.), Vaturu (Cing.), Yé (Burm.), Ahyer (Malay).

384. Water for medicinal purposes, e.g., making infusions, decoctions, &c., should be the purest which can be procured. At certain seasons, however, especially during the monsoon, the best water is apt to be so muddy as to be unfit either for medicinal or drinking use. Under these circumstances, recourse may be had to the native practice of rubbing the inside of a vessel or chattie with Clearing Nut, the Seeds of Strychnos Potatorum, Linn., Nir-malí (Hind., Beng., Mah., and Guz.), Chil-bínj (Duk.), Tétrán-kottai (Tam. and Malyal.), Tétrán-parala (Tel.), Ingini-atta (Cing.), Kamou-yeki (Burm.), bruised or sliced, previous to the water being poured into it. This simple measure is said to render the muddiest water clear and wholesome. Where water has been collected from swampy or malarious localities, a better plan is to subject it (with the addition of a piece of freshly prepared charcoal) to boiling, and subsequent straining or filtering. The uses of water in medicine are multifarious and important.

385. As a drink in Fever and Inflammations, cold water may be taken without restriction, and it may be rendered more refrigerant and agreeable by the addition of some mucilaginous agents, as rice, &c., and some vegetable acid, as tamarind pulp or lime-juice. For Irritability of Stomach and Vomiting in Fever, water drunk as hot as it can be borne will often prove very effectual; "But," observes Dr. Aitchison, "the remedy should not consist of merely a mouthful or so of hot water; but of two or three tumblers full. One would suppose that drinking this amount of water on an irritable stomach would rather produce vomiting: this is not the case. The patient may bring up a little of the water; but usually he simply turns round, and falls asleep as if a narcotic had been given him." In Smallpox, Measles, Scarlatina, and other Fevers, the practice of freely sponging the surface once or twice daily with water is extremely grateful and refreshing to the patient, and may be used with perfect safety unless the heat be high above the natural standard, when tepid water should be substituted. As a general rule, the temperature of the water should be regulated by the patient's feelings; it should be cold, tepid, or quite warm, as is most agreeable. A mixture of Vinegar and Water (one part of the former to three of the latter) is even more refreshing than plain water.

386. In Sunstroke, the first thing to be done after removing the patient into the shade and taking off the head-gear and upper clothing, is to practise COLD AFFUSION. For this purpose he should be held in a sitting posture, whilst the water, the colder the better, is poured down in a pretty full stream, at a height of two or three feet over the head, spine, and chest. After its application for a minute or two, the patient will probably heave a deep sigh or inspiration, when the affusion should be discontinued and the patient removed to a dry spot, thoroughly dried with a warm cloth or towel, and diligent friction maintained till full consciousness is restored. Mustard poultices (247), Turpentine stupes (362) to the feet and calves are also advisable if insensibility be long continued. One or two points demand attention. 1. The water should not descend all at once, but rather in a small continuous stream, and it should be directed not so much on the top of the head as on the back part and upper portion of the spine. 2. It should at once be discontinued when the patient begins to revive. 3. It is not adapted for the aged and debilitated, or when the skin is cold and clammy; in these cases affusion should be restricted to dashing cold water on the face and chest, together with persevering frictions of the extremities; and when the patient is able to swallow, administering mild stimulants, e.g., ammonia, weak brandy and water, &c. The above treatment is adapted for Apoplexy and Profound Insensibility, such as occurs in Poisoning by Opium, Bish (Aconite), or the fumes of Datura. In ordinary cases of Fainting, Convulsions in Adults arising from no evident cause, and Hysterical Convulsions in Women, simply dashing cold water with some little degree of violence on the face and bosom, is generally all that is required.