Notices of a singular form of Fever. 115 



The only medicine that I gave, with advantage, was 

 calomel in small doses, until the mouth was slightly af- 

 fected, by which time every case, that came under my 

 care, was relieved. A variety of medicines was used by 

 the different practitioners of this place, but none of them 

 appeared to be of real service, except mercury. 



Repeated cathartics were very commonly used by 

 some at the first appearance of the disease ; but they were 

 soon abandoned as useless, or hurtful. 



Some patients gradually recovered without medical 

 aid, but, in every case that I heard of, the recovery was 

 very slow. 



This disease was so very common, that many of the 

 planters believed it to be contagious, and used every 

 means to avoid being in company with those who had it. 



It was much more common among the whites than 

 among the blacks ; men were oftener affected than wo- 

 men ; adults than children ; and young men oftener than 

 elderly men. 



The bilious-fever, in its usual form, was not common 

 during this season ; and not a single case of jaundice, 

 within my knowledge, ended fatally. In an elderly lady, 

 it produced general dropsy, which will prove fatal to her. 

 I believe, she had no medical assistance for some weeks 

 after she was attacked. Another case produced an as- 

 cites (in a middle aged man), which, I think, will be re- 



