TYPHUS FEVER. 31 



Has a musty smell when the skin is dry; Ammoniacal odour, whether the skin is 

 acid, when moist. dry or not. 



Characteristic eruption appears about Eruption characteristic, appears earlier, 

 the 7th or 8th day. and is more abundant. 



Sudamina from the 10th to the 15th day. Sudamina are rare in this disease. 



Petechise are rare in this disease. Petechiae and vibices are common. 



plas a constant anatomical lesion. Has no constant lesion. 



Has bronchitis commonly in the second Pneumonia of posterior part of lunges 

 week. more common. 



No crisis by sweat, but a gradual re- Crisis by sweating in nearly every re- 

 covery, covery. 



Occurs mostly in the fall and winter. Occurs mostly in winter and spring. 



Second attacks are rare. Second attacks do occur. 



Treatment. — A large well-aired room ; frequent changes of linen ; 

 ablution of the patient's body ; removal of all unnecessary carpets 

 and curtains ; and the instant removal of all evacuations, are mea- 

 sures desirable both to mitigate the patient's disease, and to prevent 

 it from infecting his attendants. The chloride of lime may be scat- 

 tered about the floor. 



The treatment of fever, according to the best modern physicians, 

 should be expectant ; that is, the symptoms should be watched and 

 relieved as they arise, but no violent efforts should be made to cut 

 the disease short. 



In the first stage, if there is much nausea and gastric disturbance, 

 a mild emetic of ipecacuanha may procure relief. 



The bowels should be cleared out by an active aperient at the 

 outset; say three grains of calomel, with rhubarb, and be kept open 

 by milder doses ; viz. hyd. c. cret., followed by castor oil, or an in- 

 jection. 



MercUry^ gf^ntly given, so as to touch the gums, has seemed of 

 service in some epidemics, but not in others. 



The hair should be removed ; and the head be bathed with cold 

 lotion as long as there is much headache, and as long as it is agree- 

 able to the patient. If there is great general heat of skin, the whole 

 body may be sponged v/ith tepid water. 



Bloodletting should never be practised from mere routine, but be 

 reserved to combat any local inflammation that may arise. 



If the headache is very intense, with great heat, flushed face, and 

 wild delirium, a small bleeding in the erect posture ; or rather a few 

 leeches, or the loss of a little blood by cupping from . the neck, will 

 be advisable. Profound coma should be treated by a large blister to 

 the shaven scalp. 



Great dyspnoea, with other signs of inflammation in the chest, must 

 be combatted by a cautious cupping, folloVk'ed by a blister, or mustard 

 poultice ; and small doses of-senega. 



If the type of the fever is very low^ and there is great feebleness, 

 it will be necessary to give good beef tea, and small quantities o^ wine 



