INTERMITTENT FEVER. 437 



INTERMITTENT FEVER. 



In the chilly stage, or, still better, somewhat before it, when 

 the premonitory yawning and slight rigors appear, immersion in 

 the hot bath, or the vapor bath, continued until the reaction is com- 

 plete, will be found effectual in many cases, at least in preventing 

 the coming on of the hot stage, and giving rise in its stead to a mild 

 perspiration. 



The treatment of the hot stage is very simple. We manage 

 according to the pulse, and the amount of fever, just as we would 

 in any other case. Affusion with cold water, dripping sheets, half- 

 baths, the cold-bath, tepid-bath, and even the warm-bath, as before 

 remarked, bring down the heat and pulse in fever; any or all of 

 these methods we may use; in short, the whole of the cooling plan, 

 according to the case. And what is truly admirable in this treat- 

 ment is, we prevent the sweating stage. 



The diet is a matter of great importance in ague. An improper 

 meal is sufficient, in many cases, to bring on an attack even after 

 the paroxysms have been checked. I have known patients who had 

 just recovered from ague, and were going about comparatively well, 

 by eating a hearty supper of warm biscuit and butter, and the Hke 

 articles, to be attacked again the next day as badly as ever. 



BILIOUS AND REMITTENT FEVER. 



Treatment This is to be conducted on general principles. 

 The important object is to keep down general fever. It is also 

 important to purify the system as fast as possible. For this pur- 

 pose the wet pack is the most useful of all known remedies. We 

 can advantageously give three or four of these applications daily, 

 when the pulse is full and bounding, and during the intervals have 

 the patient almost constantly in the folded sheet. If he is able to 

 sit up a part of the time, a large wet girdle should be employed. 

 Frequent clysters are sometimes useful, and the patient should drink 

 as much water as he can, without oppressing the stomach. It may 

 be taken warm for the diluent effect, if he is at all chilly. 



CONGESTIVE FEVER. 



There are two forms of congestive fever, requiring directly 

 opposite forms of treatment. When the congestion is accompanied 

 with high fever, headache, and even stupor with flushed face, which 

 symptoms are generally present when the brain is the suffering organ, 

 coldness and friction constitute the great remedy. In another place 

 I have spoken of the Parisian treatment of cholera, which consists of 

 a great deal of friction with the hands wet in cold water for the 

 water is of a moderate temperature in that country and water is 

 also freely poured upon the patient. This is in effect the half or 

 shallow bath of Priessnitz, which can be well enough imitated by 



