Volume 1

The general practice of physic: extracted chiefly from the writings of the most celebrated practical physicians ... To which is prefixed an introduction, containing inquiries relative to the patient ... / By R. Brookes.

  • Brooks, Richard, active 1740-1743.
Date:
1771
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general practice of physic: extracted chiefly from the writings of the most celebrated practical physicians ... To which is prefixed an introduction, containing inquiries relative to the patient ... / By R. Brookes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    129/456 (page 113)
    chu£ appeared’ only on the fourth or feventh Days, and almoft all thofe died in whom they appeared on the firfl: Day. Thefe Spots came out firft on the Neck, the Back, and Bread ; and it was obferved, that none efcaped unlefs the Spots extended themfeives as far as the Nails of the Toes, vanifhing by De¬ grees on the upper Parts. The Petechia I have obferved to appear moftly on the Bread, Back, Arms, and Legs, and feme- times, though rarely, on the Face; either like fmall diftindl Spots of a reddifh Colour, or the Skin looks femetimes as if it were marbled, or variegated, as in the Mealies, but of a Co¬ lour more dull and lurid. As they begin to disappear, they incline to a dun, or brown Colour, and look like fo many dirty Spots. I never faw them rife above the Skin, nor ever difcern- ed any miliary Eruptions in this Fever : Flowever, we are not hence to conclude, that miliary Eruptions are never obferved in kevers of this Kind. Huxham, Hafenohrl, and Lind, and many other good Pradli doners, mention their having feera them. Many have no Petechia through the wfeole Cotxrfe of their Diford er; but in thofe that are very bad, the Countenance looks bloated, and the Eyes reddilh, and fomewhat inflamed ; and though the Skin be commonly dry, yet the Perforation from the Lungs is very {Long. By thefe Circumftances one may frequently difcover that the Patient labours under a ma¬ lignant Fever, without alking any Queftions. When Perfons are feized with a Fever fufpecled to be of the malignant Kind, our firft Care fhould be to lay them in airy Places, feparate, as much as-poffible, from other People, and xeep them extremely clean; put them on a low Diet, and al¬ low as much Barley, or Rice-Water, as they choofe to drink, which may be acidulated with Spir. Vitriolic For the firfl: two or three Days it is feldom to be diftinguifh- ed with Certainty, that the Fever is of the malignant Kind, even though there be P,eafon to expedl it. The Pain of the Head, theFullnefs and Quicknefs of the Pujfe, often leads us to the taking away more or lefs Blood, which the Patient bears eafily, and for the mo ft Part it gives Relief. Huxham fays, bleeding to feme Degree is moft commonly requifite, nay, neceflary; but then he obferves, that the Pulfe in thefe Cafes finks iurprizingly after a fecond Bleeding, and femetimes aster the firfl: And Pringle takes Notice, that in the fecond Stage of the Dilorder, large Bleedings have generally proved fatal, by finking the Pulfe, and bringing on a Delirium. I feldom repeat this Evacuation where i fufpedl a Malignancy in the Fever, unlefs a pleuritic Stich, an acute Pain of the I Vot, L l Bowels*