_Take fever powder_ (L) _one scruple; elixir of vitriol_ (G)
_thirty drops; sweet spirit of nitre_ (D) _thirty drops;
calomel_ (N) _two grains; essential oil of peppermint_ (U) _four
drops; upon a lump of sugar; and half a tea cup full of water._
Let the patient take this draught every six hours; and after four have
been taken, the calomel should be omitted. If the nerves seem to be
affected, the essential oil of peppermint may be increased. If a
delirium should come on, the _liquid laudanum_ (T) from ten to twelve
drops and upwards may be given in the draught.
I know many will think it odd, that I should give calomel in a fever;
but all this is merely the effect of blind prejudice; a better medicine
than calomel is not in all Nature, if judiciously applied; and so
fortunate have I been in my success with this exalted medicine in
contagious fevers, that I have preserved myself and my patients in the
midst of Death’s spreading horror around us. But to proceed; if the
patient continues to be dry on the surface of the skin, and perspiration
seems backward, a blister betwixt the shoulders, the bigness of the palm
of the hand[15], will greatly facilitate the crisis or turn of the
fever; but let it not be erroneously supposed, that a blister will draw
off the bad humour, or that it does good by such an operation; for this
notion has proved destructive to many patients. All the good a blister
does is to spur on the animal function; by which sometimes the acrimony
is thrown off from the system; but if thus irritating the system be
overdone, or wrong applied, it is productive of many additional evils to
the disease; causes spasms, strictures, and other acute disorders, that
of themselves may become mortal. Therefore blisters should never be used
but when the body is defective of perspiration, or when the debilitated
system is defective in its excretory functions.
Footnote 15:
The method how to apply a blister is described under the article of
Blister Plaister, in the second section, p. 75.
When the patient is rid of the fever, a general weakness will be left
behind; this is best assisted with the _elixir of iron_; and now and
then as a stomachic, a tea spoonful of _Turlington’s balsam_ (W), or
some few drops of _oil of peppermint_ (U), as also the malt decoction,
and fresh diet.
Malignant fevers are generally attended with eruptions on the skin,
which is sometimes in favour of the patient, and therefore by no means
to be hindered; but if there appears purple spots on the skin, and that
they incline to turn black, it is rather a dangerous symptom, and
indicates very little hope of the patient’s recovery.
The same method as above must be observed; which if medicine can avail,
will afford benefit.
On the whole, I have this to observe, that all acute fevers are liable
to become malignant and putrid; and in my practice I never found, that
there was any real distinction to be made in the method of cure, whether
the acrimony was generated in the habit by disease, or introduced by
contagion; and if I may be allowed to judge by comparison, it must
appear that my method is superior to the more general doctrine; because
I have ever found it to be attended with much more success.
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