Of Putrid and Malignant Fevers.
I Shall on this head restrain myself from saying more than what is absolutely requisite to the cure. It seldom happens to infect a ship’s crew at sea, unless the ship has carried it from some place where the disease was contagious.
Though notwithstanding, great sickness on board may give rise to it, if care is not taken to prevent it. I would therefore ever advise, in case of sickness, to steam the birth with vinegar; namely, taking a vessel with vinegar, in which put a hot iron, and thereby raise a steam, which is a powerful preservative.
A putrid fever may be generated from the contaminated atmosphere of a sick person, though it rarely is the case; yet prudence demands every precaution that is in our power.
The fever that I now speak of is of the malignant kind, and peculiar to the hotter climates.
The patient is seized first with a shivering chilliness, which is soon succeeded with a weak unequal fluttering pulse; the body is seized with a universal pain, together with a great debility; the mouth is hot and dry; the respiration depressed; and the mind labours under a heavy anxiety.—The fever continues, though not very high; and the pulse not very full;—a delirium or else a stupor ensues; the urine becomes deep coloured, and has an oily skim at top; and the patient is in so imminent a state of danger, that, unless a favourable crisis happens soon, twenty-four hours rapid progress is liable to put him beyond all help. The first and immediate remedy should be a vomit, No. [XXVI], which is the grand step to be taken in all fevers; not so much for the sake of cleansing the stomach, as for the universal ease it gives to nature.
The next step is to correct the putrescent acrimony in the system; for which purpose make the following draught.
No. XXX
Take fever powder (L) one scruple; elixir of vitriol (G) thirty drops; sweet spirit of nitre (D) thirty drops; calomel (N) two grains; essential oil of peppermint (U) four drops; upon a lump of sugar; and half a tea cup full of water.
Let the patient take this draught every six hours; and after four have been taken, the calomel should be omitted. If the nerves seem to be affected, the essential oil of peppermint may be increased. If a delirium should come on, the liquid laudanum (T) from ten to twelve drops and upwards may be given in the draught.