useful quantity of stimulus in fevers with debility may be ascertained.
When wine or beer are exhibited either alone or diluted with water, if the
pulse becomes slower the stimulus is of a proper quantity; and should be
repeated every two or three hours, or when the pulse again becomes quicker.

In the chronical debility brought on by drinking spirituous or fermented
liquors, there is another golden rule by which I have successfully directed
the quantity of spirit which they may safely lessen, for there is no other
means by which they can recover their health. It should be premised, that
where the power of digestion in these patients is totally destroyed, there
is not much reason to expect a return to healthful vigour.

I have directed several of these patients to omit one fourth part of the
quantity of vinous spirit they have been lately accustomed to, and if in a
fortnight their appetite increases, they are advised to omit another fourth
part; but if they perceive that their digestion becomes impaired from the
want of this quantity of spirituous potation, they are advised to continue
as they are, and rather bear the ills they have, than risk the encounter of
greater. At the same time flesh-meat with or without spice is recommended,
with Peruvian bark and steel in small quantities between their meals, and
half a grain of opium or a grain, with five or eight grains of rhubarb at
night.

* * * * *

SECT. XIII.

OF VEGETABLE ANIMATION.

I. 1. _Vegetables are irritable; mimosa, dionæa muscipula. Vegetable