AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY, . 117 
and foft, the nerves extremely irritable, and the Auids thin ; whereas in old age the 
Rbres are rigid, the nerves become almoft infenfible, and many of the veffels im: 
perviable. Thefe and other peculiarities render the difeafes of the young and aged 
very different, and of courfe they muft require a different method of treatment. Fe- 
males are liable to many difeafes which do not affli& the other fex: befides, the 
nervous fyftem being more irritable in them than in men, their difeates require to be 
treated with greater caution. They are lefs able to bear large evacuations; and all 
ftimulating medicines ought to be adminiftered to them with a fparing hand. The 
temper of mind ought to be carefully attended to in all difeafes. Fear, anxiety, and 
a fretful temper, both occafion and aggravate difeafes. In vain do we apply medi- 
cines to the body to remove maladies which proceed from the mind. When that is af- 
fected, the beft medicine is to foothe the paffions, to divert the mind from anxious 
thought, and to keep the patient as eafy and cheerful as poffible. Few things are of 
greater importance, in the cure of difeafes, than cleanlinefs. Whena patient is fuf- 
fered to lie in dirty clothes, whatever perfpires from his body is again reforbed, or 
taken up into it, which ferves to nourifh the difeafe, and increafe the danger. Many 
difeafes may be cured by cleanlinefs alone; moft of them may be mitigated by it, 
end in allof them it is highly neceffary both for the patient and thofe who attend him. 
Ori FEVERS. 
FEVERS are not only the moft frequent of all difeafes, but they are likewife the 
moft complex: in the moft fimple fpecies of fever there is always a combination of 
| feveral different fymptoms. The diftinguifhing fymptoms of fever are, increafed 
heat, frequency of pulfe, lofs of appetite, general debility, pain in the head, and a 
difficulty in performing fome of the vital and animal functions. The other fymp- 
toms ufually attendant on fevers are, naufea, thirft, anxiety, delirium, wearinefs, 
wafting of the fiefh, want of fleep, or the fleep difturbed and not refrefhing. Asa 
- fever is only an effort of Nature to free herfelf from an offending caufe, it is the bu- 
finefs of thofe who have the care of the fick, to obferve with diligence which way 
Nature points, and to endeavour to affift her operations, Our bodies are fo framed, 
as to have a conftant tendency to expel or throw off whatever is injurious to health, 
This is generally done by urine, fweat, ftool, expectoration, vomit, or fome other 
- evacuation. There is reafon to believe, if the efforts of nature, at the beginning of 
a fever, were duly attended to and promoted, it would fcldom continue rig 24 
when her attempts are either neglected or counteracted, it is no wonder if the ‘ oe 7 
proves fatal. There are daily inftances of perfons who, after catching cold, have 
the fymptoms of a beginning fever; but, by keeping warm, drinking diluting havo’s 
batihng the feet in warm water, &c, the 2 ge ew difappear, ‘ > eee 
34. 
