FEVER. 



189 



periodical neuralgia, which must be treated with 

 tonics, quinine, and chiretta. 



The bilious remittent is, par excellence, the 

 fever of the country, and every stranger must 

 expect a c seasoning ' attack. It was inordin- 

 ately fatal in the days when, the lancet being 

 used to combat inflammation, the action of the 

 heart was never restored. Our grandfathers, 

 however, bled every one for everything, and 

 for nothing : there were old ladies who showed 

 great skill in ' blooding ' cats. In 1857 men had 

 escaped this scientific form of sudden death, but 

 the preventive treatment so ably used on the 

 West coast of Africa had not been tried. The 

 cure at Zanzibar was an aperient of calomel 

 and jalap. Castor oil was avoided as apt to cause 

 nausea. Quinine was administered, but often in 

 quantities not sufficient to induce the necessary 

 chinchonization, and the inexperienced awaited 

 too long the period of remission, administering 

 the drug only during the intervals. Diaphore- 

 tics of nitrate of potash, camphor mixture, and 

 the liquor acet. ammon. were used to reduce 

 the temperature of the skin. The most distress- 

 ing symptom, ejection of bile, was opposed by 

 saline drinks, effervescing draughts, diluted 

 prussic acid, a mustard plaister, or a blister. 



