322 Expedition to the 



mained at Cape Girardeau, and it is highly probable, we had 

 all received the impression which produced the disease 

 nearly at the same time. The interruption of accustomed 

 habits, and the discontinuance of the excitement afforded by 

 travelling, may have somewhat accelerated the attack. We 

 had observed that we had felt somewhat less than the usual 

 degree of health, since breathing the impure and offensive 

 atmosphere of the Arkansa bottoms about Belle Point, and 

 there, we have no doubt the disease fastened upon us. In 

 every instance, we had the opportunity of observing, the at- 

 tack assumed the form of a daily intermittent. The cold 

 stage commenced with a sensation of languor and depres- 

 sion, attended with almost incessant yawning, and a disin- 

 clination to motion, soon followed by shivering, and a dis- 

 tressing sensation of cold. These symptoms pass off gra- 

 dually, and the hot stage succeeds. The degree of fever is 

 usually somewhat proportioned to the violence of the cold 

 fit, the respiration becomes full and frequent, the face is 

 flushed, the skin moist, and the patient falls into a heavy 

 slumber; on awaking after some time, extreme languor and 

 exhaustion are felt, though few symptoms of fever remain. 

 This routine of most uncomfortable feelings commencing at 

 nine or ten in the morning, occupied for some time, the 

 greater part of our days; late at evening, and during the 

 night we suffered less. 



Intermitting fevers are of such universal occurrence in 

 every part of the newly settled country to the west, that 

 every person is well acquainted with the symptoms, and has 

 some favorite method of treatment. A very common prac- 

 tice, and one productive of much mischief, is that of admi- 

 nistering large draughts of whiskey and red pepper, pre- 

 vious to the accession of the cold stage. Applications of 

 this kind may sometimes shorten the cold fit, but the conse- 

 quent fever is comparatively increased, and the disease ren- 

 dered more obstinate. The Peruvian bark is much used, 

 but often so injudiciously as to occasion great mischief. 



