eo «=©0d CULPEPER’s ENGLISH PHYSICIAN, 
where fuch places are too much crowded, and cleanlinefs is negleéted.. -Putridy maz 
lignant, or fpotted, fevers, are highly infectious; and are therefore often communie 
‘cated by contagion. For which reafon all perfons ought to keep at a diftance ftom 
thofe affected with fuch difeafes, unlefs their attendance is abfolutely neceffary. “Pye 
trid fevers may be diftinguifhed from the inflammatory by the fmallnefs of the 
pulfe, the great dejection of mind, the diffolved ftate of the blood, the petechiz, of 
purple fpots, andthe putrid fmell of the excrements. ‘They may likewife be ‘dif! 
tinguifhed from the low or nervous fever by the heat and thirft being gréatet, the 
urine of a highercolour, and the lofs of ftrength, dejettion of mind, and all’ ‘the’ 
other fymptoms, more violent. +63 
CURE..--- The duration of putrid fevers is extremely uncertain ; fometimes aby 
terminate betwixt the feventh and fourteenth day, and at other times they are pro- 
longed for fiveor.fix weeks. Their duration depends greatly upon the conftitution 
of the patient, and the manner of treating the difeafe,; in which we ought to endea- 
vour, as much as poffible, to counteraét the putrid tendency of the humours; to 
- fupport the patient’s ftrength and fpirits; and toafMfift nature in expelling the caufe 
of the difeafe, by gently promoting perfpiration and the other evacuations. Befides 
the frequent admiffion of freth air, which is extremely neceffary, we would recom- 
mend the ufe of vinegar, verjuice, juice of lemon, Seville orange, or any kind of 
vegetable acid that can be moft readily obtained. Thefe ought frequently to be 
{prinkled upon the floor, the bed, and every part of the room. The freth fkins of 
lemons or oranges ought likewife to be Jaid in different parts of the room, and they 
~ fhoula be frequently held to the patient’s nofe. The ufe of acids in this manner 
would not only prove very refrefhing to the patient, but would likewife tend to pre- 
vent the infeétion from fpreading among thofe who attend him. Strong-{cented 
herbs, as rue, tanfy, rofemary, wormwood, &c. may likewife be laid in different 
parts of the houfe, ‘and fmelled to by thofe who go near the patient. Tf: a, vomit 
€ given at the beginning of this fever, it will hardly ever fail to havea good effet; 
wut, if the fever has gone on for fome ‘days, and the fymptoms are violent, vomits 
€ not fo fafe. The body ‘however is always to be kept gently open by clyfters, 
Taxative medicines. Bleeding is feldom neceffary in putrid fevers. If there 
nlammation, it may fometimes be permitted at the firft onfet; but 
the repetition ‘of i ese rally proves hurtful. lifters are never to'be ufed unlefs in 
the greatett extr remities If the petechize or fpots fhould fuddenly difappear, the 
patient’s pulfe fink remar cably, and a delirium, with other bad fymptoms, come on, 
bliftering may be permitted. In this cafe the’blifters are to be applied to the head, 
and infide of the legs or thighs, | But, : as they are fometimes apt to occafion a gan- 
— we would rather recommend warm. ‘cataplafin's of poultices ‘of ‘muaftard and 
2 vinegar 
