Chap. III. 



METHOD OF TKEATMENT. 



73 



to fever, as to colds in England, it would be advisable 

 for strangers always to hasten from the coast to the 

 higher lands, in order that when the seizure does take 

 place, it may be of the mildest type. This having been 

 pointed out by Dr. Kirk, the Portuguese authorities after- 

 wards took the hint, and sent the next detachment of soldiers 

 at once up to Tette. It consisted of eighty men, and in spite 

 of the irregularities committed, most of them being of the 

 class termed " incorrigibles," in three years only ten died, and 

 but five of fever. Although quinine was not found to be 

 a preventive, except possibly in the way of acting as a 

 tonic, and rendering the system more able to resist the in- 

 fluence of malaria, it was found invaluable in the cure of the 

 complaint, as soon as pains in the back, sore bones, headache, 

 yawning, quick and sometimes intermittent pulse, noticeable 

 pulsations of the jugulars, with suffused eyes, hot skin, 

 and foul tongue, began.* 



Very curious are the effects of African fever on certain 



* A remedy composed of from six 

 to eight grains of resin of jalap, the 

 same of rhubarb, and three each of 

 calomel and quinine, made up into 

 four pills, with tincture of cardamoms, 

 usually relieved all the symptoms in 

 five or six hours. Four pills are a full 

 dose for a man — one will suffice for a 

 woman. They received from our men 

 the name of " rousers," from their 

 efficacy in rousing up even those most 

 prostrated. When their operation is 

 delayed, a dessert-spoonful of Epsom 

 salts should be given. Quinine after 

 or during the operation of the pills, in 

 large doses every two or three hours, 

 until deafness or cinchonLsm ensued, 

 completed the cure. The only cases 

 in which we found ourselves com- 



pletely helpless, were those in which 

 obstinate vomiting ensned. We had 

 received from Viscount Torrington a 

 handsome supply of "Warburgh's 

 fever drops," a medicine much 

 esteemed in India ; and in considera- 

 tion of his lordship's kindness in 

 furnishing the drug at a considerable 

 expense, as well as from a desire to 

 find out a remedy that might be relied 

 on for this formidable disease, we gave 

 it as fair a trial as was in our power. 

 In the shivering stage it caused 

 warmth, but did not cure. One old 

 man seemed cured, but died a day 

 or two afterwards. We regret that 

 we cannot lecommend it for Africa, 

 though we know of its high repute in 

 India. 



