Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health

by S. A. D. Tissot

1, The Patient must be put into a Regimen; and notwithstanding he is far from costive, and sometimes has even a small Purging, he should receive one Glyster daily. His common Drink should be Lemonade, (which is made of the Juice of Lemons, Sugar and Water) or the Ptisan [Nº. 3]. Instead of Juice of Lemons, Vinegar may be occasionally substituted, which, with Sugar and Water, makes an agreeable and very wholesome Drink in these Fevers.

2, If there be an Inflammation also, which may be discovered by the Strength and the Hardness of the Pulse, and by the Temperament and Complexion of the Patient; if he is naturally robust, and has heated himself by any of the Causes described, [§ 232], he should be bled once, and even a second Time, if necessary, some Hours after. I must observe however, that very frequently there is no such Inflammation, and that in such a Case, Bleeding would be hurtful.

3, When the Patient has drank very plentifully for two Days of these Liquids, if his Mouth still continues in a very foul State, and he has violent Reachings to vomit, he must take the Powder [Nº. 34], dissolved in half a [⁶³] Pot of warm Water, a [⁶⁴] Glass of it being to be drank every half Quarter of an Hour. But as this Medicine vomits, it must not be taken, except we are certain the Patient is not under any Circumstance, which forbids the Use of a Vomit: all which Circumstances shall be particularly mentioned in the Chapter, respecting the Use of such Medicines, as are taken by way of Precaution, or Prevention. If the first Glasses excite a plentiful Vomiting, we must forbear giving another, and be content with obliging the Patient to drink a considerable Quantity of warm Water. But if the former Glasses do not occasion Vomiting, they must be repeated, as already directed until they do. Those who are afraid of taking this Medicine, which is usually called, the Emetic, may take that of [Nº. 35], also drinking warm Water plentifully during its Operation; but the former is preferable, as more prevalent, in dangerous Cases. We must caution our Readers at the same Time, that wherever there is an Inflammation of any Part, neither of these Medicines must be given, which might prove a real Poison in such a Circumstance; and even if the Fever is extremely violent, though there should be no particular Inflammation, they should not be given.

The Time of giving them is soon after the End of the Paroxysm, when the Fever is at the lowest. The Medicine [Nº. 34] generally purges, after it ceases to make the Patient vomit: But [Nº. 35] is seldom attended with the same Effect.

When the Operation of the Vomit is entirely over, the Sick should return to the Use of the Ptisan; and great Care must be taken to prohibit them from the Use of Flesh Broth, under the Pretext of working off a Purging with it. The same Method is to be continued on the following Days as on the first; but as it is of Importance to keep the Body open, he should take every Morning some of the Ptisan [Nº. 32]. Such, as this would be too expensive for, may substitute, in the room of it, a fourth Part of the Powder [Nº. 34] in five or six Glasses of Water, of which they are to take a Cup every two Hours, beginning early in the Morning. Nevertheless, if the Fever be very high, [Nº. 32] should be preferred to it.

4, After the Operation of the Vomit, if the Fever still continue, if the Stools are remarkably fœtid, and if the Belly is tense and distended as it were, and the Quantity of Urine is small, a Spoonful of the Potion [Nº. 10] should be given every two Hours, which checks the Putridity and abates the Fever. Should the Distemper become violent, and very pressing, it ought to be taken every Hour.

5, Whenever, notwithstanding the giving all these Medicines as directed, the Fever continues obstinate; the Brain is manifestly disordered; there is a violent Head-ach, or very great Restlessness, two blistering Plaisters [Nº. 36] must be applied to the inside and fleshy Part of the Legs, and their Suppuration and Discharge should be continued as long as possible.

6, If the Fever is extremely violent indeed, there is a Necessity absolutely to prohibit the Patient from receiving the least Nourishment.

7, When it is thought improper, or unsafe, to give the Vomit, the Patient should take in the Morning, for two successive Days, three Doses of the Powder [Nº. 24], at the Interval of one Hour between each: This Medicine produces some bilious Stools, which greatly abate the Fever, and considerably lessen the Violence of all the other Symptoms of the Disease. This may be done with Success, when the excessive Height of the Fever prevents us from giving the Vomit: and we should limit ourselves to this Medicine, as often as we are uncertain, what ever the Circumstances of the Disease and the Patient will admit of the Vomiting; which may thus be dispensed with, in many Cases.

8, When the Distemper has manifestly and considerably declined; the Paroxysms are more slight; and the Patient continues without any Fever for several Hours, the daily use of the purging opening Drinks should be discontinued. The common Ptisans however should be still made use of; and it will be proper to give every other Day two Doses of the Powder [Nº. 24], which sufficiently obviates every ill Consequence from this Disease.