338 FAILURE OF THE HEARTS ACTION. 



heart to propel the blood with sufficient energy through 

 the capillaries, the patient's life is for a time in great 

 jeopardy. By timely and active measures, we may 

 succeed in exciting the heart to more vigorous action 

 and the patient may be successfully conducted through 

 a very dangerous period .of the malady. In all cases 

 of fever it is important to watch very carefully for any 

 indications of decided failure of the heart's action ; 

 but, at the same time, it is very necessary not to 

 modify the treatment at every slight change that may 

 be noticed in the force of the pulse. 



In slight febrile affections, the heart's action is 

 usually sufficient for the work it has to do during the 

 fever. If the feverish condition lasts more than a few 

 days, and the organ contracts feebly, its vigour may 

 often be restored by the administration of small quan- 

 tities of easily digested food at very short intervals of 

 time. Two or three teaspoonfuls of milk or strong 

 beef-tea every two hours during the night, as well as 

 during the day, may be given, and a little wine may 

 be ordered, if food alone does not have the desired 

 effect. But if, in cases of fever which continue for a 

 fortnight or more, we find the heart's action becoming 

 decidedly weaker, it is necessary to stimulate arti- 

 ficially, at least for a time. A stimulating action is 

 produced by certain remedies which act through the 

 nerves. Stimulating liniments or turpentine exter- 

 nally will sometimes succeed. Remedies which stimu- 

 late the olfactory and respiratory portions of the 



