Volume 1

A treatise on the plague and pestilential fevers : with some useful hints, for the better preservation and cure. Together with some observations, on the pestilential fever now raging among the horned cattle.

Date:: 1751

Credit: A treatise on the plague and pestilential fevers : with some useful hints, for the better preservation and cure. Together with some observations, on the pestilential fever now raging among the horned cattle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$l54 ] cured of the Plague by taking away a very /arge ^antity of Blood at once^ before any Swellmg appeared, without giving any Me¬ dicine at all after the Bleeding ; and he ob- ferves, not one Perfon, thus treated, died of the Plague, But Sydenham more generally approved of Bleeding moderately^ and early, before any Swelling appear’d \ and then he proceeded in the Ufe of moderate Sudorifics: And this Bleeding he obferv’d greatly inclin’d the Pa¬ tient to Sweat. But as Naufeas and Vomitings often attend People ill of the Plague, that they might retain the fudorific Medicine in their Stomach, he order’d his Patients to be cover’d firft with the Bed-Cloaths, and by putting the Sheet over their Faces, till he brought on a Perfpiration, effectually took off that Symptom of Vomiting, which pro¬ ceeded from the faulty Secretions made in the Stomach from the Blood previoufy vitiated by the pefilential InfeSlion; then giving his Sudorifics, the Patient retain’d ’em, and lay clofe, carefully continuing the Sweat, with proper Sudorifics and diluting Liquors, for fome Time: He afterwards gave a gentle cooling Purge, and fuccefsfully cured, in pef tilential Fevers efpecially. STDENHAM fays it is very dangerous and uncertain to long for a legitimate Maturation of the Impofthume, in fo very acute a Difeafe as the Flag ue, and therefore ad vi- fes.$