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INFLAMMATORY FEVER.

decoction is likewise a very proper drink in this disease. A tea-cupful of it may be taken every two hours, or oftener, if the pa-tient's heat and thirst be very great.*

The above liquids must all be drank a little warm. They maybe used in smaller quantities at the beginning of a fever, but morefreely afterwards, in order to assist in carrying off the disease bypromoting the different excretions. We have mentioned a varietyof drinks, that the patient may have it in his power to choose thosewhich are most agreeable, and that when tired of one, he mayhave recourse to another.

The patient's diet must be very spare and light. All sorts offlesh meats, and even chicken-broths, are to be avoided. He maybe allowed groat-gruel, panado, or light bread boiled in water ; towhich may be added a few grains of common salt, and a little sugar,which will render it more palatable. He may eat roasted apples,with a little sugar, toasted bread with jelly of currants, boiledprunes, »fee.

It will greatly relieve the patient, especially in a hot season, tohave fresh air frequently let into his chamber. This, however,must always be done in such a manner as not to endanger hiscatching cold.

It is too common in fevers to load the patient with bed-clothesunder the pretence of making him sweat, or defending him fromthe cold. This custom has many ill-effects. It increases the heatof the body, fatigues the patient, and retards, instead of promoting,the perspiration.

Sitting upright in bed, if the patient be able to bear it, will oftenhave a good effect. It relieves the bead, by retarding the motionof the blood to the brain. But this posture ought never to be con-tinued too long : and if the patient be inclined to sweat, it willbe more safe to let him lie, only raising his head a little with pil-lows.

Sprinkling the chamber witb vinegar, juice of lemon, or vinegarand rose-water, with a little nitre dissolved in it, will greatly re-fresh the patient. This ought to be done frequently, especially ifthe weather be hot.

The patient's mouth should be often washed with a mixture ofwater and honey, to which a little vinegar may be added, or witha decoction of figs in barley-water. His feet and hands oughtlikewise frequently to be bathed in lukewarm water ; especiallyif the head be affected.

The patient should be kept as quiet and easy as possible. Com-pany, noise, and every thing that disturbs the mind, is hurtful.Even too much light, or any thing that affects the senses, ought tobe avoided. His attendants should be as few as possible, and theyought not to be too often changed. His inclinations ought ratherto be soothed than »ontradicted ; even the promise of what hecraves will often satisfy him as much as its reality.

Medical treatment. — In this and all other fevers, attendedwith a hard, full, quick pulse, bleeding is of the greatest import-

' See Appendix, Pectoral Decoction-