A dissertation on fevers and inflammatory distempers : wherein an expeditious method is proposed of curing those dangerous disorders / by R. James, M.D. ... ; to which is added, an account of the success with which this medicine has been given in the small pox, yellow fever, slow fever, and rheumatism.

  • James, R. (Robert), 1703?-1776.
Date:
1755
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on fevers and inflammatory distempers : wherein an expeditious method is proposed of curing those dangerous disorders / by R. James, M.D. ... ; to which is added, an account of the success with which this medicine has been given in the small pox, yellow fever, slow fever, and rheumatism. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    now call'd fometimes malignant, fometimes nervous, and deftroy the Patient by an Excefs of thofe Means which Nature meant for his Relief. The Pbvfician therefore, who fhould attempt to cure a Fever, by exciting a Pleat greater than is requir’d for the Purpofe of Concodtion, would be guilty of an Error equal to that of a Houfewife, who fhould endeavour to anticipate the Term of Incubation, by boiling her Eggs with a View of producing Chickens more expeditioufly. Another, and that the moll common Method of treat¬ ing Fevers, may properly be call’d the Eclectic, or rather trimming Method. In this the Perfon to whofe Care the Patient is committed, bleeds, and perhaps repeats it more than once, or is bold enough to venture upon one or more Purges : but at the fame time he fruUrates his own good Intentions, by repeating every three or four Hours nervous Cordials, and warm Sudorihcs ; not confidering that Sweats, which aienot fpontaneous, but extorted, generally prove fymptomatica! and noxious, inftead of being critical and falutary. This is doing fomething worfe than nothing; for if Bleeding and Evacuations are right, heating and nervous Medicines, which are the reverfe, mull neceffarily be wrong, and <vic% e*verja. So that the good Effects which might be expended from either, are pre¬ vented by the oppofite Treatment; and the Patient is at laid oblig’d to purchafe a very indifferent Chance for his Ldfe, at the Expence of half his Skin torn off' with Blifters, with a Degree of Pain fcarcely tolerable, unlefs he has the good Fortune to.be out of his Senfes ; and even then ’tis impoffible for any one who has not been delirious in a Fever, to conceive the Agonies that are felt. But, upon the whole, the infinite Perplexity and Un¬ certainty oi Theories, and the precarious State of Prac¬ tice founded thereon, have induc’d the wifeff, the belt, and the molt honeft Phyficiar.s in all Ages, to lament the Defedls in their Profeffion, and ardently wifh for fome Medicine, or fome Method, which would anfwer their Purpofes in the Treatment of Fevers with greater Certainty and Expedition. 1 (hall now, therefore, give fome Account of a Me¬ dicine I have ufed, and the Methods I have purl’ued with uncommon Succefs, for the Cure of the very worft and molt dangerous ofthefe Diftempers. And if they fhould