ITS TRKATIMFNT. 95 



Blood-letting is rarely admissible, only, indeed, when 

 the febrile excitation is \'cry marked : the loss of a few 

 ounces of blood generally produces an irregularity in 

 the action of the heart. If venesection is tried, it should 

 be at the commencement of the disease : the pulse must 

 be carefully watched, and the flow of blood stopped 

 inmiediately on any diminution taking place in the force 

 of the heart or arteries. The day following the exhi- 

 bition of the laxative medicine, the patients may be 

 allowed a fi*ee use of nitrated water, made by adding 

 potass, nitras §ss to every gallon of water which is 

 placed in their troughs, and this may be continued for 

 five or six days, or until a subsidence of the fever takes 

 place. In those cases that do not require aperients, 

 the nitrated water may be allowed fi-om the very com- 

 mencement. When the symptoms do not yield by the 

 adoption of these means, early recourse should be had 

 to other febrifuges, in conjunction with sedatives, care 

 being taken that they are not pushed too far ; the fol- 

 lowing compound is available for such a purpose : — 



'^ Tr. digitalis lUxx 



Spt. aether, nitr .... 5^9 



Liq. ammon. acct. . . . 5ss 

 Fiat haustus. 



When the acuteness of the attack has passed, and the 

 eruption proceeds regularly through its several stages, 

 few medicaments are needed ; but in very many in- 

 stances increasing debihty, accompanied with a loathing 

 of food, follows, and, unless active measures are adopted 

 to counteract these symptoms, exhaustion of the vital 

 powers quickly results. Tonics must now be adminis- 

 tered, and of these agents the preparations of iron are 



