TREATMENT OP THE FEVER. 
163 
given, in combination with James’s powder, five grains 
of the former with two of the latter, every three hours, 
until moderate ptyalism was induced; while saline 
draughts were used as common drink, but chiefly just 
before and during the evening and night, at which 
time the thirst and heat of skin were most aggra- 
vated; a slight excess of the bicarbonate of potass 
seemed to lessen the tendency to irritability of the 
stomach, and if this failed, total abstinence from fluids 
for a short time, had often the desired effect. 
The head symptoms were chiefly treated with cold 
evaporating lotions, the hair being altogether removed, 
and in most cases by blisters to the neck or temples. 
One disadvantage of this species of counter-irritation, 
either applied as above, or in cases of tenderness over 
the stomach with continued vomiting, was the cer- 
tainty of their aggravating the dysury or suppression 
of a most important secretion, which already obtained 
as a feature in the disease. Cupping was found to be 
decidedly more useful. The remedy which may be 
considered to have the most manifest power in con- 
trolling the disease was calomel in moderate doses ; 
but even that required caution in its administration, 
as it seemed to increase the irritability of the system, 
unless ptyalism succeeded. We saw no case which 
ended fatally, where its effects could be established ; 
and in some where it was beginning to act, and sud- 
denly ceased its operations, the fever as certainly pro- 
gressed without any possibility of checking it. James’ 
M 2 
