Report of a committee of the associate members of the Sanitary Commission, on the subject of the nature and treatment of miasmatic fevers.

  • Metcalfe, John T. (John Thomas), -1902.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of a committee of the associate members of the Sanitary Commission, on the subject of the nature and treatment of miasmatic fevers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    pulse increases in frequency and force, whilst the quickened respiration is normal in rhythm. The headache becomes more severe, as do the other neuralgic pains ; the tongue is furred— anorexia continues ; so may nausea and vomiting with constipa- tion of the bowels. The thermometer shows an increased heat of the body, above the normal standard. The secretions are diminished, including that of the urine, which is high colored, and fre- quently yields deposits of urates, on cooling. In many indivi- duals, delirium is a striking symptom. In others, a strong dis- position to sopor or coma is observed. After a variable duration, the febrile symptoms described diminish in intensity, and, finally, disappear—sometimes sud- denly, at others, gradually, the body becoming cooler, and covered with a more or less copious perspiration. It is through this third or sweating stage, that the intermission is reached. During this, the patient may complain severely of malaise and debility, or he may be altogether unconscious of any ail- ment. Many variations from the description above given may be met with. There may be no perceptible chill, the paroxysm seeming to commence with the hot stage. There may be no fever, and no sweating, the chilly sensations only being those recognised; or, lastly, there may be a periodical sweat, with- out chill or fever. Indeed, any well marked periodical patho- logical phenomena, not known as hectic, occurring in malari- ous regions, are by some practically regarded as belonging to the disease under description ; since the same agency gives rise to them, and to the same remedy must we look for cure. The period elapsing between the termination of a paroxysm, and the commencement of that which succeeds, is called the intermission. The diagnosis of this disease, consideration being given to the place and circumstances in which it occurs, is not generally attended with difficulty, after observation of one paroxysm.