If the patient is very costive, a little honey and soap may be added, previously dissolved; which will both open the body, and promote urine.
For the rest, every method must be taken as is already observed in fevers.
Of a Stupor, and Lethargy.
This is a symptomatic affliction, that attends acute and malignant fevers, in its nature quite opposite to the former; in which the nervous system is benumbed, and have lost their sensation; this is very apt to succeed, but seldom precede the Frenzy. When a patient lays in that kind of stupefaction in a continual dosing, there is in general little hopes of recovery; nevertheless remedies must be applied.
Blisters here are very proper, and these should be pretty large. Horse radish should be frequently held to the nose, which has a reviving quality, and is very innocent with respect of adding acrimony to the system.
A vomit has often in this extremity proved very beneficial; which the patient’s weakness should not retard, unless very weak and near the end indeed. The following draught may also prove highly beneficial.
No. XXXIII
Take Sweet Spirit of Nitre (D) one drachm; Essential Oil of Peppermint (U) ten drops upon a lump of sugar; water one ounce, mix them.
Let the patient take this every four or six hours, till he comes to himself again:
But care should be taken that a good sound sleep, is not mistaken for a stupor; for it frequently happens that a patient upon a favourable crisis will fall into a long sound deep, that terminates all his danger; if therefore the patient breathes freely, and has a moistness all over the body, together with a tolerable regular pulse, disturb him not; but let nature finish her gracious work.—This kind of sleep is materially different from the stupor, wherein the patient neither sleeps nor wakes, but is equally insensible when the eyes are open, as when they are shut.