FEVERS. 649 



more consequence in some diseases than the frequent changing 

 of the patient's bed-clothes ; and it is one of the principal pro- 

 phylactic means for preventing the spreading of such distempers. 

 A person being near another labouring under a putrid fever, 

 will very readily escape the contagion, if he is only exposed to 

 the effluvia arising from the person, whereas, by a more close 

 contact with the bed-clothes, he will catch the infection ; and I 

 know instances of persons catching it from remaining some time 

 upon the bed of such a person, while many others, exposed to it 

 from the air, escaped unhurt : there must be pains taken with 

 our fellow-creatures, but such a contact should be avoided as 

 much as possible. 



" Not only in this way do we take care to avoid the effects 

 of a contagion, but every other excretion must be attended 

 to in the same manner. We know well, that in the case of Dy- 

 sentery it is the faeces alvinae that especially contain a con- 

 tagion, and very readily communicate it ; and it is therefore 

 known to be a proper precaution, that in armies and hospitals, 

 if possible, dysenteric persons should not be admitted to the 

 common privies, and that their excretions be removed out of the 

 chamber, and conveyed in such a manner as to prevent their do- 

 ing mischief. And possibly the same attention is necessary with 

 respect to other excretions, as that of the urine ; it should not 

 be allowed to continue too long in the patient's bed-chamber, 

 and the vessels should be constantly well cleaned from the 

 last effusion. Also, where there are excretions by spitting., 

 &c. the clothes -which receive these should be changed and 

 removed." 



CCXXIV. The putrid or putrescent matter, already pre- 

 sent in the body, may be evacuated, partly by evacuating fre- 

 quently the contents of the intestines, and, more effectually 

 still, by supporting the excretions of perspiration and urine by 

 the plentiful use of diluents. 



" It is probably an useful practice, which has now become so 

 common, the keeping the belly open in putrid fevers. (See 

 CXLIX.) Dr. Strack in Germany rests the whole cure upon 

 this management. We do not agree with him entirely upon 

 this subject, but it is on several occasions necessary to obviate 

 VOL. i. 2 z 



