OF THE SLOW, OR NERVOUS FEVER.
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only add, frequent and great irregularities in diet. Too great ab-stinence, as well as excess, is hurtful. Nothing tends so much topreserve the body in a sound state as a regular diet; nor can anything contribute more to occasion fevers of the worst kind than itsopposite.
SYMPTOMS.------Low spirits, want of appetite, weakness, weari-ness after motion, watchfulness, deep sighing, and dejection of mind,are generally the forerunners of this disease. These are succeededby a quick, low pulse, a dry tongue without any considerable thirst,chillness and flushing in turns, &c.
After some time the patient complains of a giddiness and pain ofthe head, has a nausea, with retchings and vomiting; the pulse isquick, and sometimes intermitting; the urine pale, resembling deadsmall-beer; and the breathing difficult, with oppression of the breast,and slight alienations of mind.
If towards the ninth, tenth, or twelfth day, the tongue becomesmore moist, with a plentiful spitting, a gentle purging, or a moistureupon the skin; or if a suppuration happens in one or both ears, orlarge pustules break out about the lips and nose, there is reason tohope for a favorable crisis.
But if there is an excessive looseness, or wasting sweats, with fre-quent fainting fits; if the tongue, when put out, trembles excessively,and the extremities feel cold, with a fluttering or slow creeping pulse;if there is a starting of the tondons, an almost total loss of sight andhearing, and an involuntary discharge by stool and urine, there isgreat reason to fear that death is approaching.
REGIMEN.------It is very necessary in this disease to keep the
patient cool and quiet. The least motion would fatigue him, and willbe apt to occasion weariness, and even faintings. His mind oughtnot only to be kept easy, but soothed and comforted with the hopesof a speedy recovery. Nothing is more hurtful in low fevers of thiskind than presenting to the patient's imagination gloomy or frightfulideas. These of themselves often occasion nervous fevers, and it isnot to be doubted but they will likewise aggravate them.
The patient must not be kept too low. His strength and spirits
ought to be supported by nourishing diet and generous cordials.
For this purpose his gruel, panado, or whatever food he takes, must
be mixed with wine according as the symptoms may require. Pretty
trdng wine-whey, or small negus sharpened with the juice of orange
r lemon, will be proper for his ordinary drink. Mustard-whey is
kewise a very proper drink in this fever, and may be rendered au
excellent cordial medicine by the addition of a proper quantity ol
white-wine.
Wine in this disease, if it could be obtained genuine, is almost theonly medicine that would be necessary. Good wine possesses all thevirtues of the cordial medicines, while it is free from many of theirbad qualities. I say good wine; for however common this article ofluxury is now become, it is rarely to be obtained genuine, especiallyoy the poor, who are obliged to purchi\»c il n small quantities.
I have often seen patients in l"« nervous fevers, where sulpetln