§ 270. Some Intermittents are distinguished as pernicious or malignant, from every Fit's being attended with the most violent Symptoms. The Pulse is small and irregular, the Patient exceedingly dejected, and frequently swooning; afflicted with inexpressible Anguish, Convulsions, a deep Drowsiness, and continual Efforts to go to Stool, or make Urine, but ineffectually. This Disease is highly pressing and dangerous; the Patient may die in the third Fit, and rarely survives the sixth, if he is not very judiciously treated. Not a Moment should be lost, and there is no other Step to be taken, but that of giving the Bark continually, as directed [§ 260], to prevent the succeeding Fits. These worst Kinds of Intermittents are often combined with a great Load of putrid Humours in the first Passages: and as often as such an aggravating Combination is very evident, we should immediately after the End of one Fit, give a Dose of Ipecacuana [Nº. 35], and, when its Operation is finished, give the Bark. But I chuse to enter into very few Details on this Species of Intermittents, both as they occur but seldom, and as the Treatment of them is too difficult and important, to be submitted to the Conduct of any one but a Physician. My Intention has only been to represent them sufficiently, that they may be so distinguished when they do occur, as to apprize the People of their great Danger.
§ 271. The same Cause which produces these intermitting Fevers, frequently also occasions Disorders, which return periodically at the same Hour, without Shivering, without Heat, and often without any Quickness of the Pulse. Such Disorders generally preserve the Intermissons of quotidian or tertian Fevers, but much seldomer those of Quartans. I have seen violent Vomittings, and Reachings to vomit, with inexpressible Anxiety; the severest Oppressions, the most racking Cholics; dreadful Palpitations and excessive Tooth-achs: Pains in the Head, and very often an unaccountable Pain over one Eye, the Eyelid, Eyebrow and Temple, on the same Side of the Face; with a Redness of that Eye, and a continual, involuntary trickling of Tears. I have also seen such a prodigious Swelling of the affected Part, that the Eye projected, or stood out, above an Inch from the Head, covered by the Eyelid, which was also extremely inflated or puffed up. All these Maladies begin precisely at a certain Hour; last about the usual Time of a Fit; and terminating without any sensible Evacuation, return exactly at the same Hour, the next Day, or the next but one.
There is but one known Medicine that can effectually oppose this Sort, which is the Bark, given as directed [§ 260]. Nothing affords Relief in the Fit, and no other Medicine ever suspends or puts it off. But I have cured some of these Disorders with the Bark, and especially those affecting the Eyes, which happen oftner than the other Symptoms, after their Duration for many Weeks, and after the ineffectual Use of Bleeding, Purging, Baths, Waters, Blisters, and a great Number of other Medicines. If a sufficient Dose of it be given, the next Fit is very mild; the second is prevented; and I never saw a Relapse in these Cases, which sometimes happens after the Fits of common Intermittents seemed cured.
§ 272. In Situations where the Constitution of the Air renders these Fevers very common, the Inhabitants should frequently burn in their Rooms, at least in their lodging Rooms, some aromatic Wood or Herbs. They should daily chew some Juniper Berries, and drink a fermented Infusion of them. These two Remedies are very effectual to fortify the weakest Stomachs, to prevent Obstructions, and to promote Perspiration. And as these are the Causes which prolong these Fevers the most obstinately; nothing is a more certain Preservation from them than these cheap and obvious Assistances. [70]
Chapter XIX.
Of the Erisipelas, and the Bites of Animals.
Sect. 273.
he Erisipelas, commonly called in English, St. Anthony's Fire, and in Swisserland the Violet, is sometimes but a very slight Indisposition which appears on the Skin, without the Person's being sensible of any other Disorder; and it most commonly breaks out either in the Face, or on the Legs. The Skin becomes tense, or stiff, rough and red; but this Redness disappears on pressing the Spot with a Finger, and returns on removing it. The Patient feels in the Part affected a burning Heat, which makes him uneasy, and sometimes hinders him from sleeping. The Disorder increases for the Space of two or three Days; continues at its Height one or two, and then abates. Soon after this, that Part of the Skin that was affected, falls off in pretty large Scales, and the Disorder entirely terminates.