[12] Were this not the case, we should cure pulmonic inflammation, with the greatest certainty, by covering the whole thorax with a blister.
The remedies which tend to diminish the inflammatory action, by producing a peculiar, or specific change, are, the agentes dissimiles, of which, for this purpose, lead is the best, and the one which is most frequently employed. Lead, in the state of an oxyde, was long ago used; but it does not appear, in this condition, to have much activity; and, therefore, the saline preparations are now introduced into use. The acetite of lead, on account of the supposed power of vegetable acids in abating inflammation, has been considered as possessing a great superiority over other forms; but its chief recommendation over other soluble preparations, is its cheapness; for the nitrate of lead seems to be equally powerful. The acetite of lead may be employed, either before or after crystallisation; but, if we use the crystals, they must be redissolved; for which purpose, soft, or distilled water, must be employed, otherwise a decomposition takes place. The strength of the solution which we apply, must be determined by the natural delicacy of the part, and its morbid sensibility, in consequence of inflammation. In the inflammatio valida, in which alone it is proper, the solution never ought to be so strong as to produce pain. When the eye, urethra, and other delicate parts, are inflamed, the application ought to be just so strong as to produce sensation, and should be very frequently repeated. When the cellular substance is inflamed, and we begin the application before the cutis be much affected, the solution will not require to be so strong as to produce sensation; because, were it to be so, the action excited might, from the quantity required to produce the effect, be so great, and so suddenly induced, that the powers of recovery would be lost, or a specific inflammation be occasioned, as we observe, when the solution is very much concentrated, in which case, even sloughs are sometimes produced. On the same account, we must renew the application frequently, at least if we use pledgets, otherwise the evaporation of the solvent increases the strength more than we desire. For incipient phlegmon, we may employ a solution consisting of three pounds of rain or river water, and five drachms of sugar of lead; or the following, which is more elegant: