ich in
itself does not figure as a dangerous illness, will in the case of
children appear under the gravest symptoms. It follows, therefore, how
necessary it is to discriminate closely and decide accordingly between
severe symptoms of fever as manifested by people of calm temperament,
and similar cases when manifested by people of nervous temperament.

Unfortunately fever has been treated in the past according to set and
rigid rules. As soon as the temperature of a patient rose from 98.6 deg. and
99.6 deg. to 100.4 deg., it was pronounced to be fever, and preparations were
made to treat it accordingly. The treatment became more energetic the
higher the fever rose to 105.8 deg. and 107.6 deg..

It was said that under all circumstances the temperature must be lowered
to normal.

This idea is decidedly wrong and most dangerous for the patient. For,
while a calm and phlegmatic patient may withstand this strong reduction
of excitement in his internal organs, which in fact require it, the
procedure necessary to bring it about, as a rule exceeds what the
nervous patient can endure.

The fever should only be reduced in accordance with the strength of the
patient, otherwise extreme irritation must ensue, such as has caused the
death of hundreds of thousands in the past. It is better, therefore, to
leave a nervous patient in his fever and strengthen him by various
devices, so that he may overcome it. Later he may require and,
consequently, be able to withstand stronger measures. For this purpose I
recommend simple ablutions, in some cases the application of abdominal
packs for half an hour _using two-thirds water and one-third vinegar_,
as previously prescribed. In addition, the natural vigor of the patient
is to be strengthened by administering to him, at intervals of from half
an hour to two hours, Dechmann's Tonogen and Dechmann's Plasmogen
alternately.

The treatment must be in proportion to the strength of the patient.
Thus the quiet, energetic temperament can endure more extensive packs;
his nature in fact requires them. His body may be completely packed or
at least three-quarters, by placing the moist sheet around his entire
body except the arms, while the woolen blanket is either wrapped around
the whole body, including the arms, or, as before, leaves the patient
free to move his arms, which are then only covered by the bed-clothes. A
patient of this kind may also be treated with ablutions or put into a
half bath at