The fever now to be treated of is the most common amongst mankind; especially seamen, who are ever exposed, to have the perspiration obstructed. It however would save many from the grave, and almost as many from being food for the fish, was it a little more regarded than what it actually is.
The sound of a cold is so gentle, that custom has almost made it effeminacy to pay any regard to it; and yet, if we maturely examine, we shall find the most malignant, acute, and mortal diseases, first make their appearances by the symptoms of a cold,——But let us proceed to particulars. A cold is an obstruction of perspiration; which may become destructive to the animal œconomy if neglected, in so much, that it may be considered as the first foundation of most diseases.
In my treatise on diseases of the lungs, I have enumerated the many causes of a cold to which mankind are liable, and their precautions to avoid them. To sea-faring men, I have one principal cause to mention whereby they make themselves subject to colds, and sow the seed of many dangerous diseases in their system, and that is their carelessness in shifting, after getting wet; in this respect, I have however a remedy to offer, which is as valuable and as efficacious to their preservation, as it is easily put in execution. The remedy is simply this:
A man who has been exposed on duty in the rain, and is become thorough wet, should not only shift himself in dry cloaths, but previously wash all over with sea water: if he carefully observes this, he will never get cold on that account. I have not only experienced this personally many times, but ever found it productive of salutary effects to those I have persuaded to it.——If we but make some observations on the accidental occurrences that happen at sea, we shall see the just foundation of this. When do we find a man who is continually washed by the sea to have a cold? while on the contrary a foul rainy day, will almost breed a general sickness.——These observations first brought me on the notion of washing the body with salt water, and having verified it by experiment, I soon saw the propriety of it; namely, that the fresh water being of a sluggish nature, and having a tendency to putrefaction, is not only apt to infuse a putrescency into the system, but from its slimy nature apt to clog up the pores, and thus obstruct perspiration; whilst on the contrary, salt water is not only antiseptic, but stimulates the pores of the skin to their secretory and excretory functions.——Nay so perfectly have I experienced this remedy, that I have persuaded the people to salute one another by way of play with buckets of sea water on a foul rainy day, and with pleasure I have experienced that they have all remained brisk and hearty after it, and evidently seen the difference, that on a similar day the sea water play being omitted, scarce one who has been thorough wet, escaped a cold in some degree or other.——I must not forget, that a draught of grog is likewise no bad preservative. But this is best taken when the watch is out, and that rest and sleep can be indulged upon it, as that will then be apt to throw them into a gentle perspiration; whilst however their watch is upon deck, the best warmth is that which is produced by exercise; except liquors is taken with the greatest moderation.
But when a cold has actually commenced, care should be taken immediately to have it subdued in time. The term cold however is a very vague expression, that includes a great many disorders, occasioned by an obstruction of perspiration, which all in turn shall be taken notice of: But as I am now on the subject of fevers, I shall confine myself to that at present, and consider the cold as it affects the body universally; namely headaches, a weakness in all the limbs; intermittent fevers, intermixed sometimes with flushes of heat, and at other times shivering, chilling, &c.
These are not only the symptoms of a cold, but of almost all inflammatory fevers; which in fact, the cold is a commencement of. Now all that nature requires is a perspiration; for thereby the imprisoned acrimony is expelled, and which nature is always engaged to throw off from the system.—To this intention, if the patient is rich of blood, bleeding should be performed; but with such caution, as I have before recommended. Next give the fever powder ([I]), together with a good quantity of balm tea, or if the constitution is of a phlegmatic habit, sage tea, or even sage punch ( No. [V].) will not be improper; but care should be taken, that if there is much fever, all those things should be omitted, as it is liable to increase the fever. If there is a nausea at the stomach, give a vomit: take the following:
No. XXVI
Take Ipecacuanha (S), one scruple: sugar a little lump: water half a Tea cup full, and make it up into a draught.
This vomit should be well worked off with chamomile tea, or even common luke warm water; first letting the vomit operate, and then drinking plenty of the water after every operation. When this is over, the patient should keep his bed or hammock, and take either the fever powder (L), or the before mentioned draught, No. [XXIV].
The catarrhal fever, and all the other symptoms of cold, viz. cold in the head, cough, hoarseness, &c. generally keep one another company, leave the patient generally at one time; and in fact, one method of cure, namely, promoting a perspiration, serves for all; for thereby the obstructions become removed, and nature is restored to its primitive tranquillity again.