Observations on Epidemic Disorders, with Remarks on Nervous and Malignant Fevers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1773 Excerpt: ... between it and the method besore recommended was that the patient fainted sooner when it was drawn speedily; but this was often far from a desirable consequence, as we were thereby prevented from taking so much blood as was absolutely necessary. Upon the whole, after having seen both methods practised, I must conclude the proceeding slowly, provided there is no great intermission, as efficacious as the other rapid way. The greatest physician requires every help to form an accurate judgment of a disorder, let no man therefore be above considering the minutest circumstance, as the most attentive practitioner will ever prove the most successfulEarly in summer 1771, a fever began to appear which as autumn advanced, raged with the greatest violence, nor was it overcome by a severe winter, but in its irresistible course finished the circLe of a year. This disorder was entirely differN 3 ent ent from any of those formerly mentioned, claiming the prerogative of the plague, almost all others vanishing from before its sovereign presence. It had shewed itself, as I am informed, above twelve months sooner in the eastern parts os the kingdom, pursuing a regular career from east to west in the same manner as all the epidemics which I have seen. In relating this progress it must not be omitted that they made most rapid strides in marshy overflowed grounds, so that they had often got a great way onward in such places, when they were only beginning to attack the hills of more eastern parts; and as low damp grounds were soonest seized they were likewise more severely handled. Both these remarks were fully verified in the present fever, marshy places and those adjacent to them suffering most and soonest, yet the high grounds though longer protected could not claim an entire e...