_Of Putrid and Malignant Fevers._
I Shall on this head restrain myself from saying more than what is
absolutely requisite to the cure. It seldom happens to infect a ship’s
crew at sea, unless the ship has carried it from some place where the
disease was contagious.
Though notwithstanding, great sickness on board may give rise to it, if
care is not taken to prevent it. I would therefore ever advise, in case
of sickness, to steam the birth with vinegar; namely, taking a vessel
with vinegar, in which put a hot iron, and thereby raise a steam, which
is a powerful preservative.
A putrid fever may be generated from the contaminated atmosphere of a
sick person, though it rarely is the case; yet prudence demands every
precaution that is in our power.
The fever that I now speak of is of the malignant kind, and peculiar to
the hotter climates.
The patient is seized first with a shivering chilliness, which is soon
succeeded with a weak unequal fluttering pulse; the body is seized with
a universal pain, together with a great debility; the mouth is hot and
dry; the respiration depressed; and the mind labours under a heavy
anxiety.—The fever continues, though not very high; and the pulse not
very full;—a delirium or else a stupor ensues; the urine becomes deep
coloured, and has an oily skim at top; and the patient is in so imminent
a state of danger, that, unless a favourable crisis happens soon,
twenty-four hours rapid progress is liable to put him beyond all help.
The first and immediate remedy should be a vomit, No. XXVI, which is the
grand step to be taken in all fevers; not so much for the sake of
cleansing the stomach, as for the universal ease it gives to nature.
The next step is to correct the putrescent acrimony in the system; for
which purpose make the following draught.