262 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



the other ; " I always said he was." Poor X had 

 suffered in vain. 



I have aired my ignorance enough. I will quote 

 to you Captain Petit : 



Fever. — N.B. — Be careful to shake down the mercury 

 in the thermometer before taking a patient's temperature. 

 In the hot weather the temperature in the " dewai box " 

 is often over 110°. In case of difficulty in shaking down 

 mercury place the thermometer in cold water for a few 

 minutes and then shake down. 



Simple Fever. — In ordinary cases of simple fever put 

 patient to bed and give him 10 grains of phenacetin or 

 aspirin ; this will reduce the temperature and cure the 

 headache ; it may be repeated in four hours. If the tongue 

 is dirty give him a tablespoonful of castor oil. 



Malaria Fever. — Diagnosed by patient himself : same 

 sort of fever as he had on a previous occasion. There are 

 three distinct stages in this fever, a cold stage, then a hot 

 stage, and finally a sweating stage. Treatment. — Magnesium 

 sulphate, 2 or 3 drams dissolved in water, should be given 

 at once, and then 15 grains of quinine twice a day. 



Heat -Stroke. — This is very rare. I only mention it 

 because it brooks of no delay in treatment. Diagnosis. — 

 Treat all cases with a temperature of 106° and over as 

 cases of heat-stroke. Treatment. — In one word, cold water 

 quickly. Place patient in shade, on a charpoy, or on the 

 ground, undress him, pour cold water all over him, fanning 

 him at the same time. If available, rub him with ice. 

 A patient often resists this treatment ; hold him down if 

 necessary. Continue treatment till patient's temperature 

 is about 102°, not less than 101-6°. The temperature must 

 be taken in the rectum, as the skin and mouth temperatures 

 are not reliable. Then put patient to bed between blankets. 

 If the temperature goes up again over 106° repeat the 

 treatment. The worse the patient seems — he may be 

 unconscious, delirious, or in convulsions — the more urgently 

 is the treatment called for. 



