Medical advice to the inhabitants of warm climates, on the domestic treatment of all the diseases incidental therein : with a few useful hints to new settlers, for the preservation of health, and the prevention of sickness / by Robert Thomas (late of Nevis) surgeon : to the work are prefixed, some observations on the proper management of new Negroes, and the general condition of slaves in the sugar colonies : also are annexed, a list of medicines recommended in the treatment of the diseases, and an explantory table of the weights used by apothecaries.

  • Thomas, Robert, 1753-1835.
Date:
MDCCXCIV [1794]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical advice to the inhabitants of warm climates, on the domestic treatment of all the diseases incidental therein : with a few useful hints to new settlers, for the preservation of health, and the prevention of sickness / by Robert Thomas (late of Nevis) surgeon : to the work are prefixed, some observations on the proper management of new Negroes, and the general condition of slaves in the sugar colonies : also are annexed, a list of medicines recommended in the treatment of the diseases, and an explantory table of the weights used by apothecaries. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    vifiting and feafting, during which they are apt to commit exceffes, productive, perhaps, of a Severe fit of ficktufs, that terminates fatally. To al! fuch I would therefore re- commend a moderate indulgence in the delicacies of the tabk, a very temperate ufe of all vinous and fpirituoua liquors, a great circumfpc&ion and fclf-corr.mand in ic- fual purfuitv, and the carefully avoiding all cxpofures tee- the night air. Notwithstanding every precaution, it may happen that fome flight feverifh indifpofition will aiifc. On fuch a.i event, an abstemious regimen, confinement within doors, and the tak'ng a dofe or two of fume cooling purgative, Inch as manna and cream of tartar, will be highly proper. If the perfon is young, and of a full k-abit of body, draw- ing off a few ounces of blood from the arm wil be nectf. fary. If this mode of treatment fails to remove the com- plaint, and there enfues a (mart a tack of fever, ric;urfe muft then be had to the means recommended under the hca.i of acu'e fever, or under that of the yeilow or bilious, when accompanied with fymptoms which point out a ten- dency that way. Some people, on their firft arrival, fuffcr much from ai> eruption called the Prickly Heat. This makes its appear- ance in numerous red pimples difperfed over different parts ©f the body, wlrch are accompanied with an intolerable itching and pricking heat. The complaint is, howcer, more rroublefome than dangerous, provided the eruption is not fuddenly repelled. All cxpofures to cold, moisture, ai:d partial cutrcnts of air, fhould therefore be carefully avoided. The ufe of high-feafoned meats, and heating liquors, will be improper. It may be neceflary to take f»me gentle laxative now and then, in order to keep the body open. The Nettle Spring h another eruptive complaint, with which new comers arc apt to be attacked. It makes ita appearance in large bumps, refembling the fling of nettles, or bug bites, and is attended with a considerable degree ©f heat and itching. Like the former, it readily gi\es way to a cool tcgimen, reft, and the keeping the body open. Europeans, on their firft going out to the Weft-Indies, ufual'y vxperience great inconvenience from the bite of the pufquitto, afpecicsof gnat. On whatever part this pitches, k immediately produces a fmall tumour, which is attended with fo high a degiee of itching and inflammation, that the peifon cannot refiain from Scratching it; and, by a frequent repetition thereof, often produces an ulcer: but this evil is moft apt to take place in thofa of a robuft and plethoric habit of body. To alJay the itching, the part* may