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DISEASES OF THE GENERAL SYSTEM. 341
twenty minutes' duration, with cold water to the head.
If the stomach were disturbed, a water emetic. Then a
thorough injection. As the fever came on again, a
wet-sheet pack, as thorough as needed, and repeated
as often. Cool water to drink, cool to injections the
bowels, cold compresses upon the head, the wet-sheet
pack, frequent, according to the violence of the fever;
these are our means of cure, and carefully adapted to
the necessities of each case, and the strength of each
patient, they are sufficient to cure every curable case.
Diet.—Water, until the disease is conquered, then
toast-water for a few days, and, very carefully,
and in
the smallest quantities, ripe fruit and farinaceous food.
An indulgence in the cravings of the appetite, during
recovery, is very dangerous. The stomach and bowels
are so weak and irritable, that a single improper meal
may be followed by fatal consequences.
Simple Continued Fever.—This name is given to a
fever arising from the ordinary causes, and having no
peculiar local determination. It often begins with chill,
then pain, langour, and feverishness. It may be slight
and brief, or severe and long continued, according to the
amount of impurity, and the power of the system to
expel it. If there is little matter of disease, and much
vital energy, the fever will neither be nor long violent.
it will be violent,
If much disease and much energy,
but short. It may also be a mild, slow fever, or a low
and protracted one. In this case we call it typhus, and
it may become malignant and contagious.
The Treatment.
—Most fevers terminate in health.
The diseasing matter is burned up and expelled, and the
freed on organism goes
with its functions. But we can