Symptoms, led us commonly to take
away more or less Blood, which the Patient bore easily, and for the
most part it gave Relief[7]. We seldom repeated this Evacuation where
we suspected the Fever to be of the malignant kind, unless a pleuritic
Stitch, an acute Pain of the Bowels, or some other accidental Symptom,
required it; or the Patient was strong, and there were evident
Symptoms of Fullness immediately before we intended giving the Bark,
as shall be mentioned afterwards; for under other Circumstances, if
the Blooding was repeated, and other Evacuations used freely, I always
observed that it did Harm, and was apt to sink the Patient too much;
as Dr. _Huxham_, Dr. _Pringle_, and other good Practitioners, have
remarked.
[7] Dr. _Huxham_, tho' he says "yet Bleeding to some Degree
is most commonly requisite, nay necessary, in the strong and
plethoric;" yet he afterwards makes the following Remark:
"Besides, the Pulse in these Cases sinks oftentimes
surprisingly after a second Bleeding, nay sometimes after the
first, and that even where I thought I had sufficient
Indications from the Pulse to draw Blood a second time." See
his _Essay on Fevers_, chap. viii. And Dr. _Pringle_
observes, that in the second Stage of the Disorder large
Bleedings have generally proved fatal, by sinking the Pulse,
and bringing on a Delirium. _Observations on the Diseases of
the Army_, part III. chap. vii. sect. V.
After Bleeding, if the Patient was costive, or complained of Gripes,
he had a Dose of Rhubarb, or Salts, or a laxative Clyster; but where
there was much Sickness of the Stomach, we gave a gentle Emetic[8] in
the Evening, and the Purge next Morning. And if in the Course of the
Disorder the Sickness and Nausea returned, attended with Griping and
Costiveness, or very fetid loose Stools, these Medicines were
repeated, and a gentle Opiate given in the Evening after their
Operation.
[8] Dr. _Pringle_ advises giving a Vomit, by way of
Prevention, on the first Appearance of the Symptoms, and at
Night to force a Sweat, by giving a Drachm of Theriac with
ten Grains _Sal volat. Corn. cervi_, and some Draughts of
Vinegar-whey, and to repeat the same the following Night; and
says, he has often seen those Symptoms removed which he
apprehended to be Forerunners of this Fever received by
Contagion; but previous to Vomits, or Sweats, if the Person
be plethoric,
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