OF THE BILIOUS FEVER.
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appropriate, rapidly oxydating metallic bodies, particularly ironand steel, which on that account should be removed; and radical] ydestroying the most offensive odours, thereby rendering innocuousperhaps deadly contagious poisons.
To completely purify any apartment where a patient suffers inthe scarlet fever, or any other contagious disease, so as to render itperfectly safe, not only to the attendants, but to the rest of the fa-mily, take a china tea-cup and saucer; put into the tea-cup twoounces of common culinary salt, and half an ounce of the blackoxyd of manganese, previously powdered, with one ounce of water;then take an ounce and a half of sulphuric acid (spirit of vitriol or.itriolic acid), and pour a little of it now and then into the tea-ciniamong the other ingredients. Immediately an amazing quantity ofoxygenated muriatic acid gas will be disengaged and diffused throughthe apartment. This should be suffered to remain only a fe\,minutes, removing it out of the room into the staircase, by whichmeans the whole house will become impregnated with this geoi^oxygenant. It will be proper to take it into the room frequently inthe course of the day, adding to it a little fresh sulphuric acid, andthen replacing it in its former situation.
By this simple plan, any prudent and attentive nurse may, withthe utmost facility and safety, destroy contagion in any privateapartment, or ward of an hospital. The gas extricated from com-mon salt by sulphuric acid has been employed in the Royal infir-mary at Edinburgh with very great benefit.
OF THE BILIOUS FEVER.
When a continual, remitting, or intermitting fever is accompa-nied with a frequent or copious evacuation of bile, either by vomitor stool, the fever is denominated bilious. In Britain the biliousfever generally makes its appearance about the end of summer, andceases towards the approach of winter. It is most frequent andfatal in warm countries, especially where the soil is marshy, andwhen great rains are succeeded by sultry heats. Persons who workwithout doors, lie in camps, or who are exposed to the night air, aremost liable to this kind of fever.
If there are symptoms of inflammation at the beginning of thisfever, it will be necessary to bleed, and to put the patient upon thecool diluting regimen recommended in the inflammatory fever.—The saline draught may likewise be frequently administered, and<he patient's body kept open by clysters or mild purgatives. Butif the fever should remit or intermit, bleeding will seldom be necessary. In this case a vomit may be administered, and, if thebody be bound, a gentle purge; after which, the Peruvian baikwill generally complete the cure
In case of a violent looseness, the patient must be supported withchicken broths, jellies of hartshorn, and the like ; and he may usethe compound dtcoction of chalk for his ordinary drink. If a bloodvflux should accompany this fever, it must be treated in the mannerrecommended under the article Dysentery
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