They complain less of Thirst in this than in other acute Diseases. The Tongue is generally moist, and not often furr'd: In some nevertheless it is cover'd with a thick white Coat or Fur, and those who are so affected, often complain of Soreness about the Root of the Tongue.
The Uvula and Tonsils, tho' they are sometimes so much swell'd, as to leave but a very narrow Entrance into the Gullet, and this Entrance frequently surrounded with Ulcers or Sloughs; yet the Patients often swallow with much less Difficulty and Pain than might be expected under such Circumstances.
They frequently complain, soon after they are taken ill, of an offensive putrid Smell, affecting their Throats and Nostrils, which oft occasions Sickness before any Ulcerations appear.
In those who have this Disease in a severe manner, the Inside of the Nostrils, as high up as can be seen, frequently appears of a deep red, or almost livid Colour: After a Day or two, a thin corrosive Sanies, or with it a white putrid Matter of a thicker Consistence, flows from them, which is so acrid, as to excoriate the Part it lies upon any considerable time. This is most observable in Children, or in young and very tender Subjects, whose Lips likewise are frequently of the Colour above-mention'd, and cover'd on the Inside with Vesicles containing a thin Ichor, which excoriates the Angles of their Mouths, and the Cheeks where it touches them.
It is probable, that Part of the same acrid Matter passes with the Nourishment into the Stomach; especially in Children; and it is perhaps owing to this Cause in part, that they suffer much more from this Distemper than Adults; this corrosive Fluid without Doubt producing the same Effects on the Stomach and Bowels, as it does when applied to the much less sensible Skin of the Face; i. e. it excoriates the Parts it touches; which in fact seems to be the Case: For, if they get over the Disease, a Purging sometimes succeeds it, attended with the Symptoms of Ulcerations in the Bowels, and after enduring great Pain and Misery, perhaps some Weeks, they at length die emaciated: And I have been inform'd, that some Children have had the Parts about the Anus also excoriated; the Sanies retaining its Virulency thro' the whole Tract of the Intestines.
The Sick sometimes bleed at the Nose towards the Beginning of the Disease; and the Menses very often appear in those of the Female Sex, who are of Age to have them, soon after they are seized, notwithstanding the regular Period is at a considerable Distance: If they are taken ill about the usual Season, the Discharge is commonly large and expensive. Some young Persons, who never had the least Appearance of them, have had this Evacuation during their Illness.
In strong and full Habits, these Evacuations are seldom attended with much Benefit, or manifest ill Effects, unless they are very copious; for in this Case they occasion great Faintness, and an Increase of the other Symptoms, in proportion to the Excess. In tender weak Subjects, they are often prejudicial.
It has happen'd in this Disease, that Hæmorrhages from the Nose and Mouth have suddenly carried off the Patient. I have heard of the like Accident from Bleeding at the Ear: But these fatal Discharges most commonly happen after the Patient has been ill several Days; and it seems more probable, that they proceed from the Separation of some Slough from the Branch of an Artery, rather than from a Fulness of the Vessels, or an Effort of Nature to relieve herself by a salutary Crisis.
Bleeding in this Disease has in general been observed to be prejudicial: Some indeed admit of it without any sensible Inconvenience; but a Repetition of it, even where the Disease is mild and favourable, seldom fails to aggravate the Symptoms; and in some Cases it appears to have occasion'd very dangerous Consequences. The Heat, Restlessness, and Delirium, which this Evacuation commonly prevents or mitigates in other Cases, in this are increased by it; nor does the Swelling of the Tonsils, Fauces, &c. seem to receive the least Benefit from it: On the contrary, tho' the Fullness of these Parts decreases, yet the Sloughs thicken, the external Tumor grows large, and the Spitting commonly diminishes.
Nor has Purging been observed to be more beneficial: Gentle Cathartics have brought on very dangerous Symptoms. Upon procuring a few Stools with Manna, the Redness of the Skin has disappeared, and the Flux to the Throat has been surprisingly increased: If it happens that the Discharge by Stool continues, the Swelling of the Neck commonly grows larger, the Fauces become flaccid, dry, and livid; and the Patient in a few Hours after this expires: So that Purgatives seem to have no better Effects in diminishing the Tumor, and abating the supposed Inflammation, than Bleeding.