2, Bleeding should be performed and repeated, 'till the Hardness of the Pulse is sensibly abated. The first Discharge should be considerable, the second should be made four Hours after. If the Pulse is softened by the first, the second may be suspended, and not repeated before it becomes sufficiently hard again, to make us apprehensive of Danger: but should it continue strong and hard, the Bleeding may be repeated on the same Day to a third Time, which often happens to be all the Repetitions that are necessary.
3, The Glyster [Nº. 5] should be given twice, or even thrice, daily.
4, His Legs are to be bathed twice a Day in warm Water: his Hands may be bathed in the same Water. Linen or Flanel Cloths dipt in warm Water may be applied over the Breast, and upon the Belly; and he should regularly drink the Almond Milk [Nº. 4] and the Ptisan [Nº. 7]. The poorest Patients may content themselves with the last, but should drink very plentifully of it; and after the Bleeding properly repeated, fresh Air and the plentiful Continuance of small diluting Liquors generally establish the Health of the Patient.
5, If notwithstanding the repeated Bleedings, the Fever still rages highly, it may be lessened by giving a Spoonful of the Potion [Nº. 10] every Hour, till it abates; and afterwards every three Hours, until it becomes very moderate.
§ 234. Hæmorrhages, or Bleedings, from the Nose frequently occur in this Fever, greatly to the Relief and Security of the Patient.
The first Appearances of Amendment are a softening of the Pulse, (which however does not wholly lose all its Hardness, before the Disease entirely terminates) a sensible Abatement of the Head-ach; a greater Quantity of Urine, and that less high coloured; and a manifestly approaching Moisture of the Tongue. These favourable Signs keep increasing in their Degree, and there frequently ensue between the ninth and the fourteenth Day, and often after a Flurry of some Hours Continuance, very large Evacuations by Stool; a great Quantity of Urine, which lets fall a palely reddish Sediment; the Urine above it being very clear, and of a natural Colour; and these accompanied with Sweats in a less or greater Quantity. At the same Time the Nostrils and the Mouth grow moist: the brown and dry Crust which covered the Tongue, and which was hitherto inseparable from it, peels off of itself; the Thirst is diminished; the Clearness of the Faculties rises; the Drowsiness goes off, it is succeeded by comfortable Sleep, and the natural Strength is restored. When Things are evidently in this Way, the Patient should take the Potion [Nº. 23], and be put upon the Regimen of those who are in a State of Recovery. It should be repeated at the End of eight or ten Days. Some Patients have perfectly recovered from this Fever, without the least Sediment in their Urine.
§ 235. The augmenting Danger of this Fever may be discerned, from the continued Hardness of the Pulse, though with an Abatement of its Strength; if the Brain becomes more confused; the Breathing more difficult; if the Eyes, Nose, Lips and Tongue become still more dry, and the Voice more altered. If to these Symptoms there be also added a Swelling of the Belly; a Diminution of the Quantity of Urine; a constant Raving; great Anxiety, and a certain Wildness of the Eyes, the Case is in a manner desperate; and the Patient cannot survive many Hours. The Hands and Fingers at this Period are incessantly in Motion, as if feeling for something upon the Bed-Cloths, which is commonly termed, their hunting for Flies.
Chapter XVI.
Of putrid Fevers.