The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-11-13
The Physician.

Causes or Typhoid Fever in AIassachu-
setts," published in the second annual
report of the state board of health of Mas
sachusetts:
young butcher, between twenty aid
thirty years of age, was attacked with
typhoid fever. He was Il bachelor, and
occupied a good sized chamber, lighted
by two windows, and having an open fire
place.
The fever was mild, with daily febrilc
ccrcbration, hot skin, thirst, slight diar-
rhca and rose spots, with no violent
symptoms. There was no inclination for
drugs. Hc was bathcd two or three
times Il day with tepid water and was
allowed water freely, iced or not, accord
ing to his taste. The covering of his
body WAS regulated by his sensations. y
slight wood fire, just enough to insure
ventilation, was kept in, the fireplace,
and one of the windows was raised a
little.
As soon ;ls his family, who lived in the
country, heard of his illness, two of them,
Il maiden aunt and Il sister, came to the
city to take care of him. They reached
the house one afternoon justaftoi my visit
My patient was, as described above, COM
tortablv sick, with pulse about eighty,
and without dclirium. They were
frightened to lind their relative, who
was sick with typhoid fever, SO poorly
cared for. Guided by their theory of
the proper treatment Of fever, they pro-
cccded without informing me, to reform
matters
They pinned blanket over each will
dow, so as to exclude the light, and
closed the open window; they closed the
chimney with fireboard and set up I'm
air-tight stove, in which they made !,
fire. In order to make him sweat he was
packed in blankets ard hot herb tea was
given him.
When | called tho next day I found
his room dark and filled with hot foul
atmosphere. The 0dor was of that Of
fcnsivc sort that sick chambers are too
often charged with. But the great change
was in the sick man. whom had left so
comfortable the day before. He was
wrapped in blankets his skin was dry, his
lips cracked, his eyes wild, his pulse l20,
and he was SO restless and dciirious that
it was all his attendants could do to keep
him in bed
His aunt said she came tC nurse her
nephew, and had found him with open
windows, exposed to noise and currents
| Of air, drinking cold water as freely as he
chose, and taking no medicine. These
| evils She had cndeavorcd to remedy, but
in spite of all her efforts he had rapidly
grown worse.
| The physician states his conversation
with the aunt, and his refusal TO continue
in charge unless everything was restored
rs il haI been on her arrival. The will
dows were opened the stove was removed
Il fire made in the chimney and the
blankets were taken from the patient. He
goes on to say:
| gave the sick man tlmbler of VA
| ter, which he drank asiif he were quench-
ing an internal fire. All this they bore
in silence, but when ] called for II large
tub, and made preparation for Il bath,
they demonstrated, and declared thai. Il
cold bath would kill him. Rcmonstralkes,
however, were unavailing, and my mi-
| ticnt got Il cool cffilsion by pouring vi
ter all over him. Hc was then put to
bed, tightly covered, and soon went to
| sleep, by night, his condition had greatly
improved, and the next day, twcnty-iour
hours later, his fever assumed its pre-
viouS mild type, his pulse about eighty
and his head tolcrablv clear Tcn,adc Il
! satisfactory convaescent.
The case list related is Il fair specimen
OF Il common malpractice, occurring every
day, but escaping notice because the ci-
tccts Of carhonic acid poisoning are not
brought out in bold relief