I know many will think it odd, that I should give calomel in a fever; but all this is merely the effect of blind prejudice; a better medicine than calomel is not in all Nature, if judiciously applied; and so fortunate have I been in my success with this exalted medicine in contagious fevers, that I have preserved myself and my patients in the midst of Death’s spreading horror around us. But to proceed; if the patient continues to be dry on the surface of the skin, and perspiration seems backward, a blister betwixt the shoulders, the bigness of the palm of the hand[[15]], will greatly facilitate the crisis or turn of the fever; but let it not be erroneously supposed, that a blister will draw off the bad humour, or that it does good by such an operation; for this notion has proved destructive to many patients. All the good a blister does is to spur on the animal function; by which sometimes the acrimony is thrown off from the system; but if thus irritating the system be overdone, or wrong applied, it is productive of many additional evils to the disease; causes spasms, strictures, and other acute disorders, that of themselves may become mortal. Therefore blisters should never be used but when the body is defective of perspiration, or when the debilitated system is defective in its excretory functions.
[15]. The method how to apply a blister is described under the article of Blister Plaister, in the second section, p. 75.
When the patient is rid of the fever, a general weakness will be left behind; this is best assisted with the elixir of iron; and now and then as a stomachic, a tea spoonful of Turlington’s balsam (W), or some few drops of oil of peppermint (U), as also the malt decoction, and fresh diet.
Malignant fevers are generally attended with eruptions on the skin, which is sometimes in favour of the patient, and therefore by no means to be hindered; but if there appears purple spots on the skin, and that they incline to turn black, it is rather a dangerous symptom, and indicates very little hope of the patient’s recovery.
The same method as above must be observed; which if medicine can avail, will afford benefit.
On the whole, I have this to observe, that all acute fevers are liable to become malignant and putrid; and in my practice I never found, that there was any real distinction to be made in the method of cure, whether the acrimony was generated in the habit by disease, or introduced by contagion; and if I may be allowed to judge by comparison, it must appear that my method is superior to the more general doctrine; because I have ever found it to be attended with much more success.
LECTURE VI.
OF THE
VARIOUS INTERNAL DISEASES,