CHAP. 25.—NINETY-ONE OBSERVATIONS WITH REFERENCE TO WINE.
It is a well-ascertained fact, that in the cardiac [Note] disease the
only resource is wine. According to some authorities, however, wine should only be given when the attacks come on,
while others, again, are of opinion, that it must only be administered between the attacks; it being the object with the
former to arrest the profuse perspirations, while the latter base
their practice on an impression that it may be given with more
safety at a moment when the malady has diminished in intensity; and this I find is the opinion entertained by most people.
In all cases, wine must only be administered just after taking
food, never after sleep, and under no circumstances after any
other kind of drink, or in other words, only when the patient
is thirsty; in no case whatever should it be given, except at the
very last extremity. Wine is better suited to males than to
females, to aged people than to youths, to youths than to children, and to persons who are used to it than to those who are
not in the habit of taking it; winter, too, is a better time for
using it than summer. As to the quantity to be prescribed,
and the proportion of water to be mixed with it, that depends
entirely upon the strength of the wine; it is generally thought,
however, that the best proportions are one cyathus of wine and
two of water. If, however, there is a derangement of the
stomach, and if the food does not pass downward, the wine must
be given in a larger proportion.