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SYMPTOMS OF FEVER.

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sary in the beginning of a fever. When the fever proceeds froman obstructed perspiration, this notion is not ill-founded. If thepatient only lie in bed, bathe his feet and legs in warm water, anddrink plentifully of warm water-gruel, or any other weak, dilutingliquor, he will seldom fail to perspire freely. The warmth of thebed, and the diluting drink, will relax the universal spasm, whichgenerally affects the skin at the beginning of a fever ; it will openthe pores, and promote the perspiration, by means of which thefever may often be carried oft*. But instead of this, the commonpractice is to heap clothes upon the patient, and to give him thingsof a hot nature, as spirits, spiceries, &c, which fire his blood, in-crease the spasms, and render the disease more dangerous.

In all fevers, a proper attention should be paid to the patient'slongings. These are the calls of Nature, and often point out whatmay be of real use. Patients are not indeed to be indulged in ev-ery thing that the sickly appetite may crave ; but it is generallyright to let them have a little of what they eagerly desire, thoughit may not seem altogether proper.

When a patient is recovering from a fever, great care is neces-sary to prevent relapse. Many persons, by too soon imaginingthemselves well, have lost their lives, or contracted other diseasesof an obstinate nature. As the body after a fever is weak and del-icate, it is necessary to guard against catching cold. Moderateexercise in the open air will be of use, but great fatigue is by allmeans to be avoided ; agreeable company will also have a goodeffect. The diet must be light, but nourishing-. It should be tak-en frequently, but in small quantities. It is dangerous, at such atime, to eat as much as the stomach may crave.

From the great variety of fevers that afflict the human body,it is impossible to find any medicine adapted to them all, or, in-deed, to all the symptoms of any one of them. Notwithstandingthis, the people of England have, for half a century, been swal-lowing a powder said to possess wonderful virtues in the cure offevers. Nor has the use of this powder been confined to England ;it has been carried to every part of the globe ; and great cureshave been attributed to it, with what truth I will not pretend tosay. I remember bleeding to have been as much in vogue' in fe-vers, though now it is seldom prescribed, unless in local inflam-mations. But there is a fashion in physic, as well as in otherthings ; and it is always heresy to talk against the doctrine of theday.

This fever-powder, like other quack medicines, is said to begood in a variety of complaints, and is used by some people in ev-ery disorder, real or imaginary. I knew a lady, who not only ad-ministered it to all the poor of the parish when ill, but likewisegave it to her dogs and horses ; and never failed to take it dailyherself, till she destroyed her constitution. Many persons looknoon it as panacea, or universal remedy, and keep it continuallyby them in case of emergencies. The fatal consequences of suchcredulity must be often irreparable. This, at least, was the situa-tion of an old General of my acquaintance, whom no argumentcould dissuade from taking the powder, till he lost the use of allhis extremities.