PUTRID FEVER.

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continued for a considerable time, often carry off the fever, andshould never be imprudently stopped. Small miliary pustules,appearing between the petechias or purple spots, are likewise fa-vourable, as also hot scabby eruptions about the mouth and nose.It is a good sign when the pulse rises upon the use of wine, or oth-er cordials, and the nervous symptoms abate ; deafness comingon towards the decline of the fever, is likewise often a favoura-ble symptom,* as are abscesses in the groin, or parotid glands.

Among the unfavourable symptoms may be reckoned an ex-cessive looseness, with a hard swelled belly ; large black or lividblotches breaking out upon the skin ; apthee in the mouth ; coldclammy sweats ; blindness ; change of the voice ; a wild staringof the eyes ; difficulty of swallowing ; inability to put out thetongue ; and a constant inclination to uncover the breast. Whenthe sweat and saliva are tinged with blood, and the urine is black,or deposits a black sooty sediment, the patient is in great danger.Starting of the tendons, and foetid, ichorous, involuntary stools,attended with coldness of the extremities, are generally the fore-runners of death. . „

Diet. — In the treatment of this disease, we ought to endeavour,as far as possible, to counteract the putrid tendency of the hu-mours ; to support the patient's strength and spirits ; and to as-sist Nature in expelling the cause of this disease, by gently promot-ing perspiration and the other evacuations.

It has been observed, that putrid fevers are often occasioned byunwholesome air, and of course they must be aggravated by it.fare should, therefore, be taken to prevent the air from stagnat-ing in the patient's chamber, to keep it cool, and renew it fre-quently, by opening the doors or windows of some adjacent apart-ment. The breath and perspiration of persons in perfect healthsoon render the air of a small apartment noxious ; but this willsooner happen from the perspiration and breath of a person whosewhole mass of humours are in a putrid state.

Besides the frequent admission of fresh air, we would recom-mend the use of vinegar, verjuice, juice of lemon, Seville orange,or any kind of vegetable acid that can be most readily obtained.These ought frequently to be sprinkled upon the floor, the bed,and every part of the room. They may also be evaporated witha hot iron, or by boiling, &c. The fresh skins of lemons or oran-ges ought likewise to be laid in different parts of the room, andthey should be frequently held to the patient's nose. The use ofacids in this manner would not only prove very refreshing to thepatient, but would likewise tend to prevent the infection fromspreading among those who attend him. Strong-scented herbs,as rue, tansy, rosemary, wormwood, &c. may likewise be laid indifferent parts of the house, and smelled to by those who go nearthe patient.

The patient must not only be kept cool, but likewise quiet andeasy. The least noise will affect his head, and the smallest fatiguewill be apt to make him faint.

* Deafness is not always a favourable symptom in this disease. Perhaps it Í9 onlyaoj when occasioned by abscesses formed within the ears.