unam omni hora donec laxetur alvus.
His Infusion of Snake-Root was prepared in the following
Manner:
Rx. Rad. Serpent. Virgin. drachm. ij. Croci Angl. drachmam
dimidiam, infunde per horam vase clauso in aq. bull. q. s. &
dein unc. vi. Colaturae, adde aq. Menth. simp. unc. ij. Vin.
Maderiensis, unc. iv. Syrup. Croci vel Syr. e Mecon. unc. i.
Elix. Vitriol. acid. q. s. ad gratum saporem M. capiat aeger
cochlear. ij. vel iij. omni hora vel secunda quaq; hora vel
saepius pro re nata.
The Stomach is so irritable in the Beginning of this
Disorder, as to reject the saline Draughts, Nitre, and such
other Medicines. Nor will the Bark, which might be judged a
very proper Medicine in the second Stage of the Disorder, lie
upon the Stomach, but is thrown up immediately, in whatever
Form it is given. However, a Gentleman who had practised long
in the _West Indies_ told me, that although the Patient could
not retain it in his Stomach, yet that he had found great
Service, after the Bowels were emptied, from the Bark used
freely in Clysters.
Dr. _Hillary_ disapproves of the Use of Blisters in the
advanced State of these Fevers.
After emptying the Bowels, we gave the cooling, and mild Diaphoretics,
such as the saline and mindereri Draughts, joined occasionally with
Nitre, or the Contrayerva Powders; while we made the Patient drink
plentifully of warm diluting Liquors; which we found to answer in
general better than any other Remedies: They brought the Remissions to
be more evident, and the Paroxysms to be milder, at the same Time that
they kept up a free Perspiration, as a Means to carry off the
Distemper.
In some Cases we gave the Antimonial Powder, made of one Part of
Tartar Emetic, and ten of the _pulvis e chelis_, in small Doses, from
two to four Grains every four or six Hours. The first Doses of this
Powder sometimes made the Patient sick, and acted as a Purgative, and
kept up a free Perspiration; at other Times, it produced no visible
Effect. In some Cases, where it was given early, it operated both by
Stool, and as a Diaphoretic, and removed the Fever[75]; and it was of
Use in others, towards the Decline of the Fever; but we were often
obliged to lay it aside; for it either acted too roughly, or produced
no visible Effect or Alteration in the Disorder.
[75] Dr. _Millar_, one of the Physicians to the Army, told me
in _Germa
|