ACUTE CONTINUAL FEVEE.
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tolerably easy after the first bleeding, it ought not to be re-peated.
If the heat and fever be very great, forty or fifty drops ofthe dulcified or sweet spirit of vitriol may be made into adraught, with an ounce of rosewater, two ounces of commonwater, and half an ounce of simple syrup, or a bit of loafsugar. This draught may be given to the patient every threeor four hours while the fever is violent ; afterwards once infive or six hours will be sufficient.
If the patient be afflicted with retching, or an inclinationto vomit, it will be right to assist nature's attempts, by givinghim weak camomile tea or lukewarm water to drink.
If the belly be bound, the patient ought daily to receive aclyster of milk and water, with a little salt and a spoonfulof sweet oil or fresh butter. Should this not have the de-sired effect, a tea-spoonful of magnesia alba, or cream of tar-tar, may he frequently put into his drink. He may likewiseeat tamarinds, boiled prunes, roasted apples, and the like.
If about the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth day the pulse becomesmore soft, the tongue moister, and the urine begins to let falla reddish sediment, there is reason to expect a favorable issueto the disease. But if, instead of these symptoms, the pa-tient's spirits grow languid, his pulse sinks, and his breathingbecomes difficult, with a stupor, trembling of the nerves,starting of the tendons, &c, there is reason to fear that theconsequences will be fatal. In this case blistering plastersmust be applied to the head, ankles, inside of the legs orthighs, as there may be occasion ; poultices of wheat bread,mustard, and vinegar, may likewise be applied to the solesof the feet ; and the patient must be supported with cordials, asstrong wine whey, negas, sago gruel with wine in it, andsuch like.
A proper regimen is not only necessary during the fever,but likewise after the patient begins to recover. By neglect-ing this, many relapse, or fall into other diseases, and con-tinue valetudinary for life. Though the body be weak aftera fever, yet the food for some time ought to be rather cleans-ing than of too nourishing a nature. The person should takegreat care not to exceed in any thing. Too much food, drink,exercise, company, Sec., are carefully to be avoided. Themind ought likewise to be kept easy, and the person shouldnot attempt to pursue study, or any business that requires in-tense thinking.
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