Births  Marriages  Deaths  &c. &c.

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1845 continued

the first appearance of the disease: which seems to prevent any considerable degree of cough. But there is one particular in which the recent fever differs from the previous ones, viz., in the total absence of a cold fit at the very commencement. I have seen some of the patients when first attacked tremble as violently and apparently from the same causes, as ever I saw any one under the influence of ague. Now in this last sickness it was not thus, only one person complained of cold and he was but slightly affected. The first person attacked was a man of full habit of body, plethoric and subject to fits. He had attended divine service in the morning, it being the Sabbath, after evening service I found him under the influence of raging fever his eyes seemed ready to start from their sockets, and the heat of his skin caused a disagreeable sensation to those who touched him. He complained of violent pain in his head, back and thighs, and said he felt as if "live things were creeping between his flesh and skin." Fearing it might bring on one of those fits to which he was subject I bled him & gave him a sudorific* which had a good effect. The next day a doze of calomel and jalap was administered and two days after that he was well though very weak.

*[Other version: soporific]

I do not think the fever was infectious and though in the space of six days not less than sixty out of one hundred & twenty two were attacked yet I attribute it solely to the peculiar state of the atmosphere. When