Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-09-25
YELLOW FEVER TREATMENT,

The following was sent to Mr., j. L.
Rives by Mr.. Pallisser, an experienced
nurse of fever patients in Mobile
SYMPTOMS,
Chilly sensations, pains in the bones,
headache, pains in the back and knee
Joints. sometimes sickness of the stom-
ach and vomiting. When the fever
shows itself the skin becomes dry and
hot. the pulse quick and fun, the face
red and flushed and painful. Ii not at
tended to Immediately the fever goes to
the brain and the patient becomes deli
rious.
TREATMENT.
Whenever any of the above symptoms
are apparent let the patient beundressed
and put in bed between blankets Give
a simple dose of medicine, ether castor
oil or Il bottle Of citrate of maguesia
The latter is more agreeable to take and
more cooling to the blood Get Il foot
bath that will hold at least a bucket Of
water, fill ii two thirds full of hot wa
ter, put into il nearly a cupful Of mus
tard. Put the foot tub on the bed un-
| der the blankets. let the feet Of the pa
tent remain in this bath fully half an
hour, keeping the blankets well tucked
in around the patient, keep the hands
under the cover, let the blankets be well
tucked in around the neck. If the head
aches very badly apply a cold cloth to
the forehead. When the foot tub is
withdrawn do not stop to wipe the feet,
but cover up as closely as possible so as
to produce perspiration. Let the foot
bath be repeated while the pains remain
in the bones.
The room need not be kept too close,
on the contrary, it is better to have
fresh air for the patient to breathe. But
do not let the draft come IN the patient,
so as to check the perspiration, which
must be kept up while the fever lasts.
The patient must not be allowed to get
out of bed, sit mp, or change his clothes
or take any kind of food. His drink
must be small quantities of ice water,
lemonade or orange-leaf tea, The lat
ter is an excellent sudorifc. Ice crushed
in a towel can be given in small quaint
ties-this is very cooling tothe stomach.
By all means keep the patient perfectly
quiet and free from all kinds of excite.
ment-he must not be allowed to be
depressed The nurse must be intelli-
gent, cheerful and not laxative,
There should be no one allowed in the
room but the nurse, and she should
never, if possible, be absent from the
bedside, even for a moment. If there
is no relapse the fever is apt to leave the
patient in seventy-two hours, but
should it continue longer there is no &C.
casion for alarm, for during the whole
of the epidemic of 1867 l have known the
fever to last four or five days without
abating and the patients recovered
Great care must be taken to keep up a
gentle perspiration during the continu-
ance Of the fever,
AS soon as the fever leaves, if the pa
tent should feel too faint or weak, let
a t~easpoonful of good brandy or whisky
be given in the same quantity of ice wa
ter and a little white sugar, from time
to time. Should sickness of the stom-
ach appear, a mustard plaster must be
applied to the chest to prevent vomiting
The feet and legs are apt to be cold
these must be rubbed with dry mustard
and long woollen stockings put on.
NoURIsHMEYT
must be given in very small quantities,
and of the very lightest kind-say q
couple Of tablespoonfuls Of barley wa
ter, rice or corn meal Cruel, at inter.
walls of two hours, or whatever the stom.
ach may be able TO bear during the first
day, counting from the time the fever
leaves. The next day a little chicken
broth or beef tea can be given. After.
wards tea and toast and a little broiled
chicken or a couple of fresh oysters, il
it should be the season for them.
On no account should the patient be
allowed to eat strong or indigestible
food, as more deaths occur from thi.
cause and leaving the bed too soon, than
almost any other.
The great trouble is in convincing the
patient that he must stay in bed fol
some days after he thinks he is well
Often persons thought themselves per
fectly well and only committed the
small imprudence Of walking across tbs
room to look out Of the window and re.
naming up but short time, died in al
hours. Others feeling themselves en-.
tirely recovered. being excessively hun.
cry, ate d hearty meal and died in two
or three hours after. About the tenth
day, if everything has gone on smoothly
and the patient has had no relapse, he
can have his clothes changed and sit
up awhile. If he should feel weak ht
must lie down again. The patient can
drink Scotch ale or good lager beer dur.
ing convalesence.