Fever, Part 2

Papers on Health
by John Kirk

(Page 8 of 21)

We must think of not merely relieving, but of curing the patient, by attacking the poisonous substance where it has lodged in the nerve centers of the bowels. Pure water, with just as much acetic acid or vinegar dropped into it as will make it taste the least sour, should be given in tablespoonfuls (and hot) as frequently as the patient can take it without discomfort. If possible it should be distilled water, or rain water filtered, but certainly as pure and soft as can be procured. There is no drug that can be prescribed that is equal to pure water, and no acid better than common white vinegar.

These three things - the strong fomentation of the feet and legs, the cooling of the head, and the dissolution of the poisonous substances by means of pure water, and their counteraction by means of acid in very small strength - will do wonders in gastric fever. The "turn" may be secured in a week instead of three, if these things are skillfully and persistently applied. We should say that the strong fomentation and cooling of the head should not be done oftener than twice a day, and only once if the patient feels too weak for twice. But as a general rule, the person who is ill will wish these things at least twice a day. The sips of water should be given, say in a dozen separate tablespoonfuls at a time, at least thrice a day - oftener if desired by the patient.

For food there is nothing equal to good fresh buttermilk. All alcoholic drinks are damaging in a high degree in such an illness as this. Sweet milk, if somewhat diluted with good water, will do, but there is nothing so good as the buttermilk fresh from the churn.

Absolute rest in bed is necessary, and no solid food should be given to the patient until his temperature has been ten days at normal point. All food given in the illness should be liquid enough to pass through the meshes of a milk strainer. Care should be taken in this matter, as death has often followed the taking of solid food, when otherwise recovery would have come.

Milk should always form the largest portion of the diet, and may be given with arrowroot or oat flour. Beef tea is of little use, and is always to be avoided if there is a tendency to diarrhea. Plenty of cold water may always be given.

In a community which is visited by gastric fever as an epidemic this fact is striking - only a portion of the people are affected by the visitation. Here is one man who drinks the water which gives gastric fever to another; that water goes into his stomach as it does into that of his neighbor, and passes through his system the same, yet death is the result in one case, and not even sickness or inconvenience in the other. In the latter case the system has the power of resistance, and our aim should be to increase this. Therefore we say by all means look to the healthful state of the lungs and bowels when you have the least reason to fear that bad water may bring gastric fever to you or yours.

If there is any tendency to constipation get some licorice, and boil it thoroughly with about half an ounce of senna leaves to a two penny stick. Strain well, and let all in any danger have a teaspoonful of this thrice a day. It will do wonders in keeping matters in a good state within. If possible, give a good rubbing all over once a week with hot vinegar, and follow that up with warm olive oil. That will do a great deal to keep things right outside. Take and give more rest than usual to the toil-worn when such danger is near, and have as good food provided for all as is possible. There may be danger in the air, and still worse danger in the water to those whose vital force has got low, while there is none in either to those whose systems are in good tune.

You are, perhaps, ready to ask if we care nothing about bad water? Certainly; we care a great deal about it, as we do about bad air. By all means condemn wells and streams that are corrupted, and insist on the opening of better ones. Make it a first condition of having anything to do with a place for habitation that it has good air and good water. We are only pointing out the best safeguard when neither the one nor the other can be insured.

In all cases where water is suspected, it should be boiled before use.

There is, in great numbers of persons, both old and young, what may be called the natural aptitude of healing. They are kept back from trying to help because it is regarded as so dangerous a thing to go near fever, and also to interfere where only professional skill is legally allowed. To apply such a remedy as that which we have here sketched for gastric fever is perfectly safe in both senses. No medical man worthy of being regarded will find any fault with it, and there is no danger to either the patient or the person applying it.

The mode we have pointed out involves nothing that may not be easily had by the very poorest. What is wanted is only one or two who shall be Christian enough to care just a little for human bodies as well as human souls, and who shall study such simple and accessible remedies, and be ready to guide their fellow-creatures in a time of trouble.

Fever, Hay - See Hay Fever.

Fever, Influenza - This is a slow, smoldering kind of fever. For treatment, pack the feet and legs in hot fomentation over the knees, and apply cold cloths over the stomach and heart, taking care in applying the cold if the patient is weak. In such a case only moderately cool cloths should be used. Carry out these two processes effectively, and a cure should soon result. Give light food - milk and water, and milk diet generally. Give small quantities frequently rather than a good deal at once.

Fever, Intermitting - For this the treatment may be given as in gastric fever, and, in addition, the stomach and bowels should be carefully lathered over with soap lather (see Lather). This has a wonderfully soothing effect. It may be spread with the hand over the skin, and fresh supplies gently rubbed on until much of the fever is removed. Some five minutes' lathering at a time is enough - this may be done several times a-day. Carefully dry after it, and let the patient rest.

It will be well to anticipate such attacks by softening the skin when it shows a tendency to be hard and dry. A gentle rubbing now and again with fine lather and good olive oil will secure this. We say lather and oil because, when there is no fever heat, lather by itself is too cooling, but when mixed with a little oil the mixture is comforting rather than chilling, and softens nicely.

Printed by Hurst Bros., Shaw Heath, Stockport. 1904.