The American eclectic practice of medicine (Volume 1).

  • Jones, I. G. (Ichabod Gibson), 1807-1857.
Date:
1853-54
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The American eclectic practice of medicine (Volume 1). 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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    bowels; but such is not usually the case. During the paroxysm all these symptoms may be present, and, after the decline of the fever, they may pass off, leaving the patient in a comfortable and comparatively healthy condition during the apyrexia. But if the attack is of the malignant character, with paroxysms occurring every day, or even every alternate day, your patient will not be able to be up at all. There will not be an entire cessation of the symptoms; the pulse will continue slightly excited, a little wiry and hard under the finger; and the skin, though softer than during the paroxysm, will be more dry and husky than in the interval of an ordinary intermittent fever. As soon as the intermission comes on, you should, in such a case, administer your remedies, to prevent another paroxysm. During this com- plication, there is not unfrequently a very low state of the system, which is very liable to be mistaken for typhoid fever, and under such circumstances, a correct history of the case is of the utmost importance. Without this you will lose many patients, whom, with proper investigation, you would succeed in saving; for in many of these cases, and especially in the South, the patient sinks under the second or third paroxysm and dies. In some instances the paroxysms will be accompanied with delirium, and all the symptoms of inflammation of the brain, and here, too, you are in danger of committing a gross error, without careful diagnosis. For, instead of exhibiting the heroic treat- ment, indicated by cerebral inflammation, you should simply palliate, until the fever begins to decline, and then treat with a view to the periodic character of the case. These are the most important complications of this disease likely to be encountered in its treatment. Always bear in mind the periodicity of the disease, however slightly developed, and, what- ever its character or whatever its complication, you will usually succeed. Without attention to this characteristic, you will be liable to commit very grave mistakes. Intermittent Fever is a disease from which no age, sex nor condition in life is exempt. Though it has been considered by some authorities as more peculiar to adult age, and to the male sex, I have found no difference in this respect. The fact that adult males are more frequently exposed to the inclemency of the