The pains which accompanied this fever were exquisitely severe in the head, back, and limbs. The pains in the head were sometimes in the back parts of it, and at other times they occupied only the eyeballs. In some people, the pains were so acute in their backs and hips, that they could not lie in bed. In others, the pains affected the neck and arms, so as to produce in one instance a difficulty of moving the fingers of the right hand. They all complained more or less of a soreness in the seats of these pains, particularly when they occupied the head and eyeballs. A few complained of their flesh being sore to the touch, in every part of the body. From these circumstances, the disease was sometimes believed to be a rheumatism; but its more general name among all classes of people was, the break-bone fever.
I met with one case of pain in the back, and another of an acute ear-ach, both of which returned periodically every night, and without any fever.
A nausea universally, and in some instances a vomiting, accompanied by a disagreeable taste in the mouth, attended this fever. The bowels were, in most cases, regular, except where the disease fell with its whole force upon them, producing a dysentery.
The tongue was generally moist, and tinctured of a yellow colour.
The urine was high coloured, and in its usual quantity in fevers.
The skin was generally moist, especially where the disease terminated on the third or fourth day.
The pulse was quick and full, but never hard, in a single patient that came under my care, till the 28th of September.
It was remarkable, that little, and, in some instances, no thirst attended this fever.
A screatus, or constant hawking and spitting, attended in many cases through the whole disease, and was a favourable symptom.