QUININE. 
167 
We have previously called attention to the good 
effects of quinine in the treatment of fever ; we must 
also speak of it as a prophylactic. It had long been 
observed by medical men on the west coast of Africa, 
that persons subject to ague or intermittent fever, 
were exempt from the more serious remittent form. 
Mr. Thomson therefore reasoned, that if the use of 
quinine could control a disease which granted this 
immunity from the more fatal one, might not the free 
administration of it in the healthy subject induce such 
a change in the system as would keep both away On 
the return of the Expedition to the Bight of Biafra in 
1842, he commenced tlie experiment in his own person 
in large doses — six to ten grains daily ; and although 
very much exposed on shore in the woods of Fernando 
Po, Bimbia, Oameroons, &c., he escaped the remittent 
altogether ; but on the recall of the officers and men 
to England, he gradually left off the quinine, and on 
reaching Plymouth, discontinued it entirely, when, 
strange to say, tertian ague attacked him at regular 
intervals for some months, and even recurred on the 
following year at the same period''^ 
As regards the influence of diet in the prevention 
of fever, we had the clearest proofs that tolerably good 
living, with a moderate proportion of wine and Bass’s 
ale, was the most proper course to be adopted. We 
* Medical readers are referred to the Lancet; date 28th February, 
1840. 
