218 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
the capital, lost most of his men by the ravages of the fever, 
from which his own life at one time seemed in danger, 
relates, in speaking of the treatment he received from the 
natives, when so ill as to be unable to speak or move 
“ In this state, Hector (a native servant) made me swallow 
some water in which different herbs had been boiled; it 
was very bitter, and made me vomit, which I had before 
done in the morning. The Ovahs took me from my bed, 
then, covering me well with blankets, placed a pot of boiling 
water with different herbs under the blankets, and thus 
kept me in the steam until I was nearly suffocated. It 
having brought on slight perspiration, they replaced me in 
the bed, and some time after I found myself somewhat 
better; three hours after, it was repeated, and I found myself 
greatly relieved. In three hours more they laid me on my 
back, and poured over me the same, rubbing me well with 
the boiled herbs. I passed the night without sleep, but the 
fever left me in the morning; the fumigation was repeated, 
and, after having kept myself well covered for two or three 
hours, I felt so well as to be able to get up and eat break¬ 
fast.” 
It is, from general observance and experience, considered 
that hope, and cheerfulness, with a proper regimen, are 
among the best remedies; and that fear, grief, and fretful¬ 
ness, have a tendency to bring on the fever, to increase the 
violence of all its symptoms, and to protract its duration, if 
it do not promote its fatal termination. A Frenchman at 
Tamatave was, in consequence of fright, suddenly seized 
with the fever ; he gave himself up to despondency, and died 
in five days. 
When the symptoms assume an inflammatory character, 
efforts are made to induce a remittent form; if these are 
successful, hopes of recovery are cherished. But it the 
