536 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



When the temperature reaches 103 the fever is moderately severe. 

 104 severe. 



105 very severe. 



., 106 dangerous. 



107 usually fatal. 



When the skin is moist it is a good sign. When it is moist, but also sodden, 

 like the hands of a washerwoman, it indicates great relaxation of the system, and 

 is a bad sign. When, in addition to the skin being sodden, it is dusky, that is a 

 very bad sign, indicating as it does considerable depression of the heart's 

 action. 



A fever may terminate in any one of several different ways. When the tempe- 

 rature falls suddenly, the termination is said to be by " crisis." In several fevers 

 there are what may be fairly called critical days. In 'typhus fever, the seventh 

 and fourteenth days may be regarded as critical Should the temperature fall con- 

 siderably on the seventh day, this is a favourable sign, but should it fail to do so, 

 the fever pursues a course of at least six days of increased danger. In typhoid fever 

 it is not uncommon for a change in the course of the temperature to be noticed 

 about the seventh day. When the temperature returns gradually to the normal, 

 the disease is said to terminate by " lycis." Not uncommonly we get a combination 

 of termination by lycis and crisis, the temperature falling in an irregular manner 

 by jerks. 



The mortality varies considerably in different fevers. For instance, death from 

 chicken-pox is a rarity, whilst in cholera the mortality in some epidemics is as high 

 as 70 or 80 per cent. 



The importance of a rational treatment of fever cannot be over-estimated. 



It must always be borne in mind that we have no specific remedy for any of our 

 common, fevers. We cannot hope to cure them, and in many cases the object of 

 the treatment is simply to conduct the fever to a favourable termination, and to 

 ward off any iiitercurrent disease. Nevertheless there are certain drugs which, 

 although not curative in their action, may be administered with advantage, as there 

 is reason to believe that they modify the course d the disease. 



First and foremost among these is aconite. Aconite is indicated in many 

 affections marked by elevation of temperature, a rapid strong pulse, dry heat of 

 skin, chills followed by burning heat, restlessness, constipation, and scanty high- 

 coloured urine. It is doubtful whether its administration will shorten the fever of 

 the acute specific diseases, such as scarlet fever, measles, &c., but it has a beneficial 

 influence in these complaints, soothing the nervous system, and favouring sleep by 

 inducing free perspiration. In typhus and typhoid fever aconite probably does but 

 little good. It should be administered in the form of the aconite mixture (Pr. 38). 

 Unless the temperature, as measured by the thermometer, falls during the twenty-four 

 hours immediately succeeding the administration of the remedy, it will in all pro- 

 bability do but little good. 



Tincture of gelsemimim proves useful in many fevers, its action in some respects 

 resembling that of aconite. It has been used with success in scarlatina, especially 

 when occurring in children, and in the early stage of measles, when there is a thin 



