126
INFLAMMATORY FEVER.
cult, with a stupor, trembling of the nerves, starting of the ten-dons, &c. there is reason to fear that the consequences will be fa-tal. In this case blistering-plasters must be applied to the head,ancles, inside of the legs or thighs, as there may be occasion ; poul-tices of wheat-bread, mustard, and vinegar, may likewise be ap-plied to the soles of the feet, and the patient must be supportedwith cordials, as strong wine-whey, negus, sago-gruel, with winein it, and such like, especially camphor and œther.*
A proper regimen is not only necessary during the fever, butlikewise after the patient begins to recover. By neglecting this,many relapse, or fall into other diseases, and continue valetudinaryfor life. Though the body be weak after a fever, yet the diet forsome time ought to be rather light than of too nourishing a nature.Too much food, drink, exercise, company, «fee. are carefully to beavoided. The mind ought likewise to be kept easy, and the pa-tient should not attempt to pursue study, or any business that re-quires intense thinking.
If the digestion be bad, or the patient be seized at times withfeverish heats, an infusion of Peruvian bark in cold water will beof use. It will strengthen the stomach, and help to subdue the re-mains of the fever.
When the patient's strength is pretty well recovered, he ought totake some gentle laxative. An ounce of tamarinds and a dramof senna may be boiled for a few minutes in an English pint ofwater, and an ounce of manna dissolved in the decoction ; after-wards it may be strained, and a tea-cupful drank every hour till itoperates. This dose may be repeated twice or thrice, five or sixdays intervening.
Those who follow laborious employments ought not to returntoo soon to their labour after a fever, but should keep easy till theirstrength and spirits are sufficiently recruited.
It requires very little argument to prove, that the body, as wellas the mind, must require indulgence after the severity of such adisease. But I find it more difficult to prevent people from carrying this indulgence to excess in what relates to eating and drink-ing. The appetite is usually voracious upon recovering from mostfevers, and to say, that its cravings are not to be satisfied, is cer-tainly an unpalatable doctrine. Yet self-command is necessary insuch cases, as there will be great danger, not only of a relapse,but of other disagreeable consequences, such as biles, ulcers, andsettled swellings in particular limbs. These may be obviated bya light and principally vegetable diet, not however totally exclud-ing animal food of easy digestion.
Sudorifics do not appear to be advisable in this fever, from theiraptitude to bring on profuse perspiration ; and it is not possible tokeep the body warm without producing a considerable increaseof heat. Epsom, or any of the other neutral salts, may be givenin some simple form, every two or three hours, joined with small
* Take camphor mixture, 6 ounces.
Spirits of compound ether.Aromatic spirits of ammonia, of
each, 2J drachms.
Mix, and give the patient two table spoons-ful every hour.