THE NIGER FEVER. 
161 
red colour, and in all tremulous, on protrusion. The 
pulse generally averaged 96 at commencement, but it 
varied a good deal in different cases, both as to number 
and momentum, the change being from 96 to as much 
as 120 during the severity of the accession. About 
the third day, the irritability of stomach came on ; the 
fluid ejected being either yellowish, or green and bilious. 
Tenderness over the stomach was not invariably 
present, and in no case did it amount even on pressure 
to any indication of acute inflammation. The general 
impression produced on- the system at the outset 
merits the most attention, in some there being great 
nervous depression with rapid prostration of strength 
and despondency of mind ; or high excitement with 
full pulse, again succeeded by exhaustion; w^hile in 
others, the disease advanced slowly and insidiously 
without developement of any urgent symptoms until 
about the sixth day. These latter were certainly most 
intractable. On questioning such patients, they would 
reply in a languid sort of tone, that there was nothing 
whatever the matter with them ; that they were quite 
well; and wondered why they were obliged to take 
medicines, or be placed under any restriction. In 
scarcely any two cases treated on board ‘ Soudan,’ was 
the malady exactly similar; in all, however, the 
remission was somewhat longer and more distinct on 
the alternate days, the accessions becoming stronger 
and more aggravated until the seventh or eight day, 
when the symptoms became less severe, with favourable 
VOL, II. Til 
