416 REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS ON 



relieved. " Will you," said he, " indulge me with a cup of 

 cold water ty " Most certainly," I replied, and handed him 

 a half-pint tumbler of it ; he drank it hastily, with a thousand 

 thanks, and was much refreshed. In ten minutes he request- 

 ed another, which was granted. In a short while he exclaim- 

 ed, " You have saved my life, I am cool and comfortable." 

 The heat of the skin was now natural, a kindly perspiration 

 came on, and my patient was inclined to sleep : next morn- 

 ing he was perfectly free of all complaints ; and recovered 

 without the use of any other medicine. 



The effects of large draughts of cold water, and the sud- 

 den application of cold water to the surface, when well timed, 

 were uniformly to abate the heat of fevers immediately; to 

 lower the action of the heart and arteries ; to bring on a ge- 

 nial glow, and kindly perspiration. 



I have seen a few instances of the anomalous fever, de- 

 scribed by Dr Cuurie at page 46, in this country. He has 

 accurately described the symptoms and general appearances* 

 I have marked it by a bright white appearance of the papil- 

 l;e on the middle of the tongue, which in general had no 

 slough or great dryness. This fever was obstinate, but at 

 length yielded to calomel. 



In other fevers, a violent headach resisted every other 

 means, and was judged by some practitioners to be hydroce- 

 phalus. Calomel persevered in at length gave relief, with- 

 out any sensible operation, except by the skin. 



In regard to what Dr Curkie says, page 68, as to the te- 

 pid bath or affusion, or sponging the body with Avarm vinegar 

 and water, I have to remark, that the first was generally 

 practised by me on sick men landed from crowded transports, 

 when their skins felt sweaty, and below the natural tempera- 

 ture of heat ; and sponging with warm vinegar and water 

 was in daily use in the general hospital, when men could not 

 be lifted out of bed. At other times, flannel cloths, wrung 



