INFLAMMATORY FEVER.

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•diet, with little exercise, application of cold to the body whenwarm, &c. It may likewise be occasioned by whatever obstructsihe perspiration, as lying on the damp ground, drinking cold li-quor when the body is hot, night-watching, repelled eruptions, sup-pressed evacuations, &c.

Symptoms. — A rigour or chilliness generally ushers in this fever,which is soon succeeded by great heat, a frequent and full pulse,pain of the head, dry skin, redness of the eyes, a florid counte-nance, pains in the back, loins, &c. To these succeed difficultyof breathing, sickness, with an inclination to vomit. The patientcomplains of great thirst, has no appetite for solid food, is restless,and his tongue is of a scarlet colour at the sides, and furred withwhite in the centre.

Unfavourable symptoms. — Delirium, excessive restlessness,great oppression of the breast, with laborious respiration, startingof the tendons, hiccup, cold clammy sweats, and an involuntary-discharge of urine, with those enumerated under this head in sim-ple continued fevers, &c. This disease usually goes through itscourse in about fourteen days, and terminates critically, either by adiaphoresis (gentle degrees of perspiration,) diarrhœa, hemorrhagefrom the nose, or the deposit of a copious sediment in the urine;a crisis which is usually preceded by some variation in the pulse.In some instances, however, it terminates fatally. Our judgment,therefore, of the disease, must be entirely regulated by the vio-lence of the attack, and the nature of the symptoms.

As this disease is always attended with danger, the best medi-cal assistance ought to be procured as soon as possible. A physi-cian may be of use at the beginning, but his skill is often of noavail afterwards.

Diet. — From the symptoms of this disease, it is evident, thatthe blood and other humours require to be attenuated ; that theperspiration, urine, saliva, and all the other secretions, are in toosmall quantity ; that the vessels are rigid, and the heat of the wholebody too great : all these clearly point out the necessity of a regi-men calculated to dilute the blood, correct the acrimony of the hu-mours, allay the excessive heat, remove the spasmodic stricture ofthe vessels, and promote the secretions.

These important purposes may be greatly promoted by drink-ing plentifully of diluting liquors, as water-gruel, or oatmea\-tea ;clear whey, barley-water, balm-tea, apple-tea, &c. These may besharpened with juice of orange, jelly of currants, raspberries, andsuchlike: orange-whey is likewise an excellent cooling drink. It ismade by boiling among miik and water a bitter orange sliced, tillthe curd separates. If no orange can be had, a lemon, a littlecream of tartar, or a few spoonsful of vinegar will have the sameeffect. Two or three spoonsful of white wine may occasionallybe added to the liquor when boiling.

If the patient be costive, an ounce of tamarinds, with two ouncesof stoned raisins of the sun, and a couple of figs, may be boiled inthree English pints of water to a quart. This makes a very pleas-ant drink, and may be used at discretion. The common pectoral

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