Bleeding, saturnine applications, and the other remedies which are useful in the inflammatio valida et acuta, are hurtful here, and increase the disease.
The agentes similes, on the contrary, are useful, and may be used internally, or topically.
Internally, the bark, wine, and opium, with good diet, ought always to be employed, if the part affected be very delicate, and sympathise greatly with the constitution, or if the extent of the disease be great.
Locally, stimulating applications are the proper remedies; and the strength and nature of these must depend upon the natural or acquired delicacy of the part.
When the skin, or cellular substance, is affected with the inflammatio assuefacta, spirit of wine by itself, or with the addition of a little camphor, is a very useful application.
When the skin is not directly affected, but only the parts immediately below it, as, for instance, the muscles in chronic rheumatism, or the articulating surfaces of joints, we may sometimes, by applying cloths dipped in laudanum, or strong diffusion of opium, propagate, from the surface to a certain distance, the narcotic action, and alleviate the disease; but, most frequently, we are obliged to trust entirely to the effect of the sympathy of equilibrium, diminishing the action of the internal parts, without any considerable change of nature, by increasing that of the surface. Blisters and rubefacients, such as volatile linamentol. terebrinth. cum camphora, &c. are the remedies for this purpose.
The inflammatio assuefacta, when it affects delicate parts, covered only with a thin skin, such as the throat, forming one of the most frequent species of cynanche, is cured by gargling with port wine, infusion of capsicum, and similar remedies.
When it affects the eyes, the use of stimulating and opiated preparations have been long in use. The following is one of the best:
R. Vini Albi uncias duas.
Opii drachmam.
Pulv. Gall. scrupulum. Macera per dies tres dein cola.