. When there was a
Tendency to a Diarrhoea, we were obliged to add some of the
_electuarium diascordii_ to the Cortex, and frequently to give an
Opiate in the Evening. One Case, where this Method of Cure had a very
remarkable good Effect, I had under my Care at _Paderborn_. A Soldier
who lay in one of the lower Wards of the Jesuits Hospital, after a
Malignant Fever, attended with a Flux, used to bleed at the Nose, to
four, five, or six Ounces at a Time; and once or twice lost near a
Pint of Blood, of a dark Colour, very thin and watery, and of so loose
a Texture, that the grumous Part scarcely coagulated. This Evacuation
brought him so low, that he could scarce turn himself in Bed; and his
Pulse might be said rather to flutter than beat: By the continued Use
of the Bark, and of Cordials, and Drinks acidulated with _spiritus
vitrioli_, and some Spoonfulls of mulled Red Wine every two or three
Hours, he was restored to Health and Strength. The only Accident which
happened during the Cure, was a Threatening of a Looseness, and the
Return of his Flux; which however was stopt by a Dose of the
_tinctura rhei_; by joining some of the _electuarium diascordii_ with
the Bark, and giving an Opiate in the Evening.

* * * * *

Putrid Malignant Fevers, attended with Eruptions, are taken Notice of
by _Hippocrates_[24], and other antient Authors[25]; but whether they
meant that particular Sort of Eruption which we now call Petechiae, is
uncertain; as their Descriptions are not clear enough to distinguish
it from the Miliary and other Kinds. But since the Year 1500, we have
had many accurate Accounts of Fevers of this Kind, which have appeared
in different Parts of the World: from all which it appears that such
Fevers generally take their Rise either from some antecedent Acrimony
of the Blood; or, what is more frequent, from some Source of
Corruption or Contagion; from the Use of putrescent animal Food, and a
Want of fresh Vegetables and acescent Liquors; from the putrid Steams
of corrupted animal Substances; from the moist putrid Vapour of low
marshy Places in Summer, where there is stagnating Water, which
corrupts by the Heat; from the foul Air of crowded Hospitals, Jails,
and Ships; and from such like Causes[26].

[24] _Hippocrat._ lib ii. popul. sect. iii. text. 2.

[25] _Aetius Tetrab._ ii. sect. i. cap. 129. _Actuar._ lib.
i. cap. 23.

[26] See these Causes mentioned by _Riveriu