The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-15
5rlrrtra lrtulrs.
From the Ne,o6e,ry Sentinel.
RT,
0hU Medical Committee Of the Ne,o5erry
Agricultural Societu

The prom onitory indications of TyphoiG
feVer are oftentimes almost passed unnotic
ed; especially with the black population
who seem to be by far the greater sufferers
on account Of reasons (satisfactoryly) ex-
pressed by medical friend, w. F. HOLMES,
IN the Charleston Medical Journal, viz: "Mo-
notony of diet, unclcaniness, exposure to
sudden alterations of heat and cold, crowd
ing together in close lily ventilated apart.
ments, and want of healthy and sufficient
sleep" Other causes might be mentioned
which increase the liability of the slave,
namely extensive manure-making in barn
yards or horse-lots directly among negro
houses, is prolific source of Fever of Ty-
Phoid type among them. But to the symp-
toms:
On closely enqulring into the condition of
the patient prior to confinement, you will be
apt to learn that slight indisposition existed
in majority of cases, fIom one to fonr or
five days or moro, marked by partial develop
ments OF some ofthe more prominent symp-
toms of the malady, viz: headache. want of
appetite, loss of strength, and diarrhna.-
Though the very reverse obtains occasional
iy, making it nice point to evacuate the
bowels sufficiently, without Cat the same
tlme) inducing too much bowel action.
The disease being in the progressive, the
patient is confined, with more headache, STU
por' great Iistlcssncss, and generally dis
position to slumber away the time, considc-
rablc prostratiOn and much loss of strength.
which 1t now presents, enables us much in
diagnosing in this fever.
Tongue more or less furred, generally
moist in the outset, having glutinous touch
tip pointed, red, and palpitatcd. Furring
comes off in few days, leaving the surface
not unlike raw beef, though occasionally
smoothc and glossy, losing its moisture as
the fever advances.
Pulse in the onset, ofmoderatc thourb ir-
regular acceleration, frequently numbering
not more than cighty-ive beats one minute.
and on simply turning in bed, half as MANY
more. The disease continuing, the pulse
VIII reduce in volnmc, and become more
hurried; notwithstanding l have seen the
pulse even in the advanced stages ofthc fc-
yer, having much volume (but as compressa-
able as possible for pulse to bc,) remarka-
bly, slow, numbering less than fifty beats to
the minute
sluggish condition of bowels may be
present and continue throughout the fever :
it is more probable that the patient will re
annoyed and much exhausted with frequent
liquid excavations, bringing with them, cspe-
cially in the onset, much mucous. The alb
domen becomes dstended, tympanitic, and
generally painful to the touch. A gurglinp
noise in the bowels, from pressure, hiccougl
hcmorrhages various, but principally from
the bowels, an alarming feature, requiring
prompt attention, with which it rarely prove.
fatal. Skin generally dry, heat about tn,
wrists and ancles reduced, often amountin!
to GOODNESS, while the heat over the abdo
dOmen is much increased. This acrid, hi
ting heat, over the bowels, regard as stri
kingly characteristic of the Typhoid Fever
TREATMENT.-The practice of Physic vii
not allow of any invariable precept. Idios
yncrasies, pecuiarities of constitutions
would prescribe such prescription Notwith
standing, | cannot at present bring to bea
on my mind one single case of Typhoid Fe
yer, in the incipicnt, or even somewhat ad
vanced, in which could not fully reconcll,
| ha oH mi frat pf I
a good deal may be gained by choice of @
metics. decidedly prefer ippecacuanha, o.
lobelia, to tarter emetic. A serious obiec
ton to the last named article is, that while
vometing, especially if you desire to contin
ue it for some time, is apt to induce in thi
fever, an irritation of the mucous surface O
the intestinal tube, thereby bringing On gen
, eral relaxation and watery excavations, favor
ing prematurcly the ultimate results of Ty
phoid Fever, proStraton and liberation.
Full end frequent vomiting, for such w
desire, may be produced by the ppecac
uanha or lObelia, or combination of tht
two by equal quantities, which perhaps i
preferable, without more than Que or tw,
comfortable, consistent, and thorough evac
uations of the bowels.
, To evacuate the stomach, thereby remov
ing gastric impurities, is by no means tn
, only advantage gained from emetics. Vom
l iting in Typhoid Fever, where there is a con
/ gcsted and sluggish state of the portal circu
lation, is highly beneficial. 1t is not proba
bic that it is by the shock of the emetics
, imparting new excitement to the nervou
system and their capacity to remove viscera
congestions, that we in part are enabled t.
? arrestin many cases, the progress of the SO
called self-limiting" disease.
Cathartics.-For this class of remedies
; beyond the effect of the emetic or emetics
as the case may be, we will find small reqni
sition. If such action should not follow