394 
SYMPTOMS. 
[chap. IX. 
of spirits difficult to explain; no peculiar symptom is 
observed until a day or two before the attack, when 
great lassitude is felt, with a desire to sleep. Rheu¬ 
matic pains in the loins, back, and joints of the limbs 
are accompanied by a sense of great weakness. A cold 
fit comes on very quickly; this is so severe that it 
almost immediately affects the stomach, producing 
painful vomiting with severe retching. The eyes are 
heavy and painful, the head hot and aching, the ex¬ 
tremities pale and cold, pulse very weak, and about 
fifty-six beats per minute; the action of the heart dis¬ 
tressingly weak, with total prostration of strength. 
This shivering and vomiting continues for about two 
hours, attended with great difficulty of breathing. 
The hot stage then comes on, the retching still con¬ 
tinuing, with the difficulty of breathing, intense weak¬ 
ness and restlessness for about an hour and a half, 
which, should the remedies be successful, terminate 
in profuse perspiration and sleep. The attack ends, 
leaving the stomach in a dreadful state of weakness. 
The fever is remittent, the attack returning almost 
at the same hour every two days, and reducing the 
patient rapidly to a mere skeleton ; the stomach 
refuses to act, and death ensues. Any severe action 
of the mind, such as grief or anger, is almost certain 
to be succeeded by fever in this country. My stock 
