In all eruptive complaints, packing-sheets allay the fever. To effect this, where the fever is strong, they should be changed once or twice, or even oftener. When there is much eruption, the heat of the bath which follows the wet sheet must be increased in extraordinary cases even to 80 deg.
The packing-sheet process and the tepid bath must be used twice a-day; patient must drink abundance of water; windows of the room ought to be always open; if constipated, clysters; waist bandages in all cases.
This treatment persevered in, must cure all eruptive and other fevers. No fear need exist as to the eruption by these means being driven in—all experience shows it is the way to bring it to the surface.
Dr. Farr declares himself a convert to the Water-cure in cases of eruption and other fevers, and did me the favour of writing the following letter:—
“Miss —— for two days had a sensation of languor, drowsiness, and pain in the head and loins, with sickness and fever. On the third day there appeared on the face small red spots, and successively on the inferior parts, until the fifth day! these rose into pimples, and then filled with puriform matter; dry hard scales formed, and on these falling off, pits or marks were left on some of them. The cold water cure had been commenced when I first saw her, which had cut the fever, and altered the character of the eruption; but as soon as the pustules began to form, the nature of the disease was no longer a matter of doubt; the pustules were as well developed, and went through their regular changes as well and as perfectly as though no application of cold had been made use of. This was the first case of small-pox I saw this winter at Nice, but shortly after several others occurred, and some of them of the confluent kind. I must confess I was surprised at the complete success of the cold water cure in this case.
“W. Farr.”
“Nice, 13th April, 1848.[”]
Scarlatina and Measles.—These two complaints are treated alike:—
Morning, packing-sheet twenty-five minutes, then change it for another for twenty-five minutes, followed by tepid bath 64° for ten minutes. Bandages. If the eruption is extensive, heat of the bath must be increased.
Repeat the treatment in the afternoon. If there is much heat between the hours of treatment, take as many rubbing-sheets one after the other as are necessary to subdue it. Much water should be drunk.