Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-11-27
FACTS ABOUT FEVERS.
some Valuable Hints About the Sick ant
the Sick Room.

oOme Valuable tlnUb ADouU tne SlcA anu
the Sick Room.
Fevers, and especially typhoid are
not always easy to recognize at the out
set 1t is frequently the case that the
medical attendant will remark: "You
are threatened with fever" There is
no such thing. Either the patient has
or has not fever, and when you are told
you are threatened" it is only make
shift to put you off until the disease de.
velops enough to enable the medical
attendant to determine.
Frequently the expression is used for
convenience, and not as cloak for ig-
nornnce. 1t is often impossible to say
and it is much easier to say threatened
with fever" than to enter into explana-
tions with The chances in favor of the
patient thinking his doctor doesn't
know enough to say what the disease is.
Honest as this intention may be,
there is another saying of medical men
which is entirely dishonest. It's often
said that case of typhoid fever was
broken up. This is an utter impossi.
bility. 1t can be controlled and some
what modified, but never broken short
off, and when your doctor lays claim to
having done this he has simply been
mistaken in his diagnosis.
The province of the physician is not
to cure typhoid fever, because this can
not be done; but to watch the case,
note the symptoms and guide and assist
nature in her endeavors to cope with
the disease until it arrives at a sue
cessful issue.
The first symptoms of the disease are
headache, loss of appetite, pains in the
limbs and buck and increase of bodily
heat, which is most marked in the
evening Frequently the patient will
be panied and restless in the evening
and forepart of the night but after the
turn Of the night falls into sweet and
refreshing sleep, which, If not dis.
turbed, lasts far into the morning.
After the first few days the face gets
heavy and expressionless, the evening
temperature gets more marked, the
tongue coated with little triangular
red space at the tip and tenderness to
pressure on the right side Of the abdo.
men.
When this point is reached 1t is us
ually well-marked case of fever, but
the frst-pamed symptoms may be in.
dicative of half dozen other diseases.
There is disease that so nearly sim
ulates typhoid fever that many are de-
ceived by it-many who are not only
well informed in matters pertaining to
the sick room, but even physicians.
That is poisoning from gas. This may
be sewer gas or Illuminating gas. II
has been noticed in this city frequently
among those who work in the gas
trenches, or people living near by
where earth impregnated with gas has
been thrown up and allowed to lie. II
has every symptom of fever except the
tenderness in the abdomen. This dis
case lasts for about week, or less
provided the patient gets good air tc
breathe. He will require the services
of a physician only to make the dag
nosis.
Just what the causes of typhoid fever
are is very hard to say. At times it car
be traced positively to some we'll which
is rendered foul by flterings from ar
adjacent deposit of refuse material o
some sort, but this is one of the dis
eases which attack alike the kings pal
ace and the beggar's hovel.
The physician is frequently asked
whether or not this disease is ''catch
ing" In one sense it is and in another
it is not The disease is communicated
from one to another by means of some
thing from the patient becoming min
gled with the food or drink of a wei
person. This is disgusting, but true. l
may be from some Of the natural effett
material thrown off, or even from
clothing saturated with perspiration
1t is possible to acquire the disease by
inhaling odors arising from thes,
emanations, but it is entirely safe t.
enter the well-ventilated room of ty
phoid patient or to attend his wants
provided cleanliness is observed.
Two-thirds of the cases of this dis
ease, it may be safely said, will re
cover without any medicine whatever
other than good nursing, sponge bath'
with cold water when the fever is high
proper food and continual cheerful
ness in the room by both nurses ant
visitors.
Hope springs eternal in the human
breast" but one lugubrious old woman
or head-shaking, long-faced man will
knock more hope out of sick persoi
in minute than can be inspired ther'
during the subsequent week.
Good nursing, especially in typhoic
fever, will do more towards curing tn,
patient, provided always that there ar
no serious complications, than half
dozen of the best doctors in town. =
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