TRENCH FEVER 123 



think. Some will tell you that they had fever, 

 very like " flue " or " their old rheumatism " for 

 a few days, and then got back to work ; others 

 will say that though the illness was unpleasant 

 while it lasted they recovered pretty well and 

 now only get returns of the old pains on damp 

 days ; but here and there will come a sufferer 

 who is quite sure that he " has never been the 

 same man since." Such men as the last will 

 complain of pain and tenderness in the shins, 

 particularly in the evenings or after even a 

 moderate walk; of rheumatic-like pains in the 

 muscles of the limbs or back, and sometimes of 

 similar pains in or around the joints ; of being 

 generally below par and underweight ; of getting 

 easily fatigued and short of breath on slight 

 exertion ; of having headaches ; of feeling depressed 

 and nervous, so that things that used to have no 

 effect on them are now actually frightening; of 

 difficulty in getting off to sleep at night, with the 

 result that they cannot rouse themselves at the 

 usual hour in the morning ; of palpitation or pain 

 over the heart, cold and sweaty hands and feet, 

 and a general tendency to perspire that is quite 

 unnatural to them. It is not usual for a man to 

 tell you of all these things, and sometimes he will 

 be content to say that he just feels " rotten," 

 but in any case you will have no doubt in your 

 own mind that the man feels far from well. 

 This state of invalidism may have already lasted 

 for months, and of the questions that the future 



