Page:The American improved family physician, or home doctor.djvu/19

Rh regular forms, viz: Quotidian—Every day Ague. Tertian—Third-day Ague. Quartan—Fourth-day Ague. These distinctions are of no practical value. There are also three stages in Fever and Ague, viz: The Cold, Hot and Sweating stages. The symptoms are all well known, and are given in all Medical Works, so I shall make them few.

The Cold Stage.—Languor, listlessness, general uneasiness, with depression of spirits, soreness of the back and extremities; the face and extremities become pale, cold sensations are running up the back and loins until shivering takes place; the lips and nails look blue, the teeth chatter, a goose skin presents itself now, and the mouth and throat are dry, and sometimes the patient vomits.

The Hot Stage.— After a while the shaking gradually subsides and goes off, then the heat of the body goes far beyond the natural standard; the skin then becomes dry, the face flushed, the pulse hard and full, breathing becomes easier; and there is thirst, severe head-ache, and restlessness; the urine high-colored, &c.

The Sweating Stage.—After the hot stage has continued for sometime a slight moisture comes on, which is observed on the forehead or neck; this gradually extends over the whole body, and profuse sweating relieves the patient's suffering. Now the patient is fit to follow his occupation again, till another fit commences. An intermission now takes place and the patient feels no fever or chill, but still there is an unhealthy condition of the system; showing that there is a cause yet which ought to be removed.

—Miasma, or Malaria,—which proceeds from the decay or decomposition of vegetable substances, as in low and marshy places, &c.

—Always favorable. Except complicated with some incurable disease.

—Here we have three principal objects to accomplish. 1. To stop or moderate the paroxysm. 2. To adopt such a course, during the intermission, as will prevent a return. 3. To prevent a relapse. In this disease Quinine is altogether depended upon, and this cannot cure the complaint. For Quinine is often adulterated or mixed with Arsenic or Rats-bane, and the use of this is followed by swelling of the Face, Spleen, Liver, &c. First or cold stage.—If suitable means are used, this stage and all the rest are cut short; when the stage comes, or is on, the patient must take the Alcoholic Vapor Bath, with his feet in hot water, and warm teas must be taken, as Catnip or Boneset, with the sweating Drops or Sudorific Tincture; (see Pharmacy,) in this way the patient must be sweated, and