The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-08-10
Yellow Fever Treatment.

Correspondence New Orleans Picayune. J
On the 23d of August, 1867, during
the prevalence of this much dreaded
malady, published an article in the
New Orleans Republican, for the
benefit and instruction Of strangers
and persons not acquainted with the
disease and its proper treatment,
which met with the approval OF the
best physicians. DR.. Schmidt, presi-
dent of the Howard association, had
several hundred copies of the article
struck of and sent up to New Iberia
to be distributed among the people
where the fever tagged with great
violence at the time. Hearing that
the disease has again made its APP
pearance in our midst, l propose to
publish a few suggestions which may
be ben eficial to unacclimated per
sons. In all my experience with yell
lew fever / have never known a case
that did not yield to proper treat
ment, although I have heard some
physicians express a contrary opinion.
Whenever a person dies with what is
thought to be one or two days illness,
the patient must have had the fever
in his system for days in latent
form. This form is the most dan
ge,ous because it comes unawares,
and, therefore, is not apt to be at
tended to in time. Every unacclima-
ted person is liable to take yellow
fever here during the summer OF fall
months. Sometimes it comes ear.
lier than others one can never feel
secure until after frost. 1t is useless
to say there is no yellow fever here,
and we must not think about it that
We are not going to have it, and all
that. The surest way to overcome an
enemy il to be prepared to meet him.
AS a preventive We sb0nld not in
dulge too much in cold bathing, as
that is apt to check perspiration and
drive in the heat. The sponge bath
is all sufficient. We must try t"
avoid being caught out in the rain
and allowing our clothes to getwet
for the same reason.
We should live regularly, take rea-
souable exercise, not 20 too much in
the sun, and do n"thing to overhead
the blood. With these precautions
we may escape it altogether. But ii
it should come, we must meet it cour-
ageously, adhere strictly to the fol-
loving directions, and, with the help
IF God, We will overcome it in every
! instance.
SYMPTOMS.
Chilly sensations, pains IN the
bones, headache, pains in the back
and knee-joiuts, sometimes sickness
of the stomach and vomiting. When
the fever shows itself, the skin be-
comes dry and hot, the pulse quick
and full, the face red and flushed
the eyeballs become red and painful
If not attended to Immediately, the
fever goes to the brain and the pa.
JlclC UcCOlueS ucIIIlOuS.
TREATMENT.
Whenever any of the above symp'
toms are apparent let the patient bt
undressed and put in bed between
blankets. Give a simple dose o
medicine, either castor Gil or bottle
Of citrate of magnesia. The latter il
more agreeable to take and more
cooling to the blood. Get foot batt
that will hold at least a bucket o
water, fill it. two thirds full of no
water, put into it nearly a capful o
mustard. Put the foot tub on TIN
bed under tile blankets, let the fee
of tho patient remain in this bail
fully half an hour, keeping the blan
kets We'll tucked 10 around the pa
tent, keep the hands under the GOV
er, let the blankets be we'll tucked il
around the neck. If the head ache
very badly apply a cold cloth to tn
/. forehead. When the foot tub is With
. drawn do not stop to wipe the fee,
but cover up as closely as possible 9
as to produce perspiration. Let tb
> foot bath be repeated while the pain
remain in the bones. e..
The room need not be kept to
. close, on the contrary, it is better t
, have fresh air for the patient t
breathe. But do not let the drai
come on the patient, so as TO chez
. the perspiratiou, which must be KEY
!, ~ while the fever lasts. The pa
,, tient must not be allowed to get on
! Of bed, cit up or change his clothes
: or take any kind Of. food. His drin
must be small quantities Of ice wats'
ice Lemonade, or orange leaf tea. I'll
latter is an excellent sudorifc. Il