It is said to be a good substitute for quinine in blackwater fever.
Rogers has recently noted the value of tartar emetic injections in eradicating the sexual parasites of carriers.
After rather extended trial of this drug for the above purpose and as a method of treating ordinary infections the general opinion is against its value.
General and Symptomatic Treatment.—During the course of the fever the patient should remain in bed and given only broths. In the intermissions of the benign forms one may allow a more generous diet. It is important that the patient be not allowed to become constipated and as a laxative one grain of calomel in divided doses followed by effervescing phosphate of soda is very satisfactory.
For the nausea sips of an ice-cold alkaline mineral water or cracked ice will generally prove effective. In more refractory cases spirits of chloroform or even a hypodermic of morphine may be necessary. Counterirritation to the epigastrium is often a help. Phenacetine may be given for the headache although ice water compresses are generally sufficient. In algid states hot water bottles should be applied to the body. During convalescence excesses in food or drink should be avoided as well as fatigue or exposure to wet or cold.
CHAPTER II
BLACKWATER FEVER
Definition and Synonyms
Definition.—Blackwater fever is a disease of disputed etiology but recently there has seemed to be rather general agreement that it is connected with repeated attacks of malaria. It is prone to affect the old European residents of parts of the tropics where malignant tertian is rampant.
On the basis of lowered integrity of the red cells, by reason of repeated attacks of malaria, we may have extensive lysis of the red cells following the administration of a dose of quinine or as the result of refrigeration, excessive exposure to the sun or great fatigue.