or BATHING OF THE FEET. The uses of warm bathing in general, and of the pediluvium in particular, are so little understood, that they are often improperly used, and sometimes as injudiciously obtained from.

In the Edinburgh Medical Essays, we find an ingenious author's opinion of the warm pediluvium, notwithstanding that of Borelli, Boerhaave, and Hoffman, to the contrary, to be, That the legs becoming warmer than before, the blood in them is warmed: this blood rarefying, dilutes the vessels; and in circulating imparts a great degree of warmth to the rest of the mass; and as there is a portion of it constantly passing through the legs, and acquiring new heat there, which heat is in the course of circulation communicated to the rest of the blood, the whole mass rarefying, occupies a larger space, and of consequence circulates with greater force. The volume of the blood being thus increased, every vessel is distended, and every part of the body feels the effects of it; the distant parts a little later than those first heated. The benefit obtained by a warm pediluvium is generally attributed to its making a derivation into the parts immersed, and a revulsion from those affected, because they are relieved; but the cure is performed by the direct contrary method of operating, viz. by a greater force of circulation through the parts affected, removing what was stagnant or moving too sluggishly there. Warm bathing is of no service where there is an insoluble obstruction, though, by its taking off from a psalm in general, it may seem to give a moment's ease; nor does it draw from the distant parts, but often hurts by pushing against matter that will not yield with a stronger impetus of circulation than the stretched and diseased vessels can bear: so that where there is any suspicion of scirrhus, warm bathing of any sort should never be used. On the other hand, where obstructions are not of long standing, and the impacted matter is not obstinate, warm baths may be of great use to resolve them quickly. In recent colds, with flight humor and peripneumonies, they are frequently an immediate cure. This they effect by increasing the force of the circulation, opening the skin, and driving freely through the lungs that lenta which stagnated or moved slowly in them. As thus conducing to the resolution of obstructions, they may be considered as short and safe fevers; and in using them we imitate nature, which by a fever often carries off an obstructing cause of a chronic aliment. Borelli, Boerhaave, and Hoffman, are all of opinion, that the warm pediluvium acts by driving a larger quantity of blood into the parts immersed. But arguments must give way to facts: the experiments related in the Medical Essays seem to prove to a demonstration, that the warm pediluvium acts by rarefying the blood.

A warm pediluvium, when rightly tempered, may be used as a safe cordial, by which circulation can be raised, or a gentle fever raised; with this advantage over the cordials and sudorifics, that the effect of them may be taken off at pleasure.

Pediluvia are sometimes used in the smallpox; but Dr. Stevenson thinks their frequent tumultuous operations render that suspected, and at best of very doubtful effect; and he therefore prefers M. Martin of Lausanne's method of bathing the skin, not only of the legs, but of the whole body, with a soft cloth dipped in warm water, every four hours, till the eruption; by which means the pustules may become universally higher, and consequently more safe.