A Treatise on the Fevers of Jamaica: With Some Observations on the Intermitting Fever of America, and an Appendix, Containing Some Hints on the Means of Preserving the Health of Soldiers in Hot Climates. By Robert Jackson, M.D.

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J. Murray, 1791 - 539 pages

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Page 118 - Such, however, is, at the same time, the nature of the animal economy, that this debility proves an indirect stimulus to the sanguiferous system; whence, by the intervention of the cold stage, and spasm connected with it, the action of the heart and larger arteries is increased, and continues so till it has had the effect of restoring the energy of the brain, of extending this energy to the extreme vessels...
Page 118 - The remote causes are certain sedative powers applied to the nervous system, which, diminishing the energy of the brain, thereby produce a debility in the whole of the functions, and particularly in the action of the extreme vessels.
Page 383 - Jackson travelled 118 miles in Jamaica in four days, and carried baggage equal in weight to the common knapsack of a soldier. He says, ' In the journey which I have just now mentioned, I probably owe my escape from sickness, to temperance and spare diet. I breakfasted on tea about ten in the morning, and made a meal of bread and salad after I had taken up my lodging for the night. If I had occasion to drink through the day, water or lemonade was my beverage.
Page 416 - That fevers with moderate symptoms, generally the cases of the synocha, frequently terminate in nine days, or sooner, and very constantly upon one or other of the critical days which fall within that period : but it is very rare, in this climate, that cases of either the typhus or synochus terminate before the eleventh day ; and when they do terminate on this day, it is for the most part fatally. When they are protracted beyond this time, I have very constantly found, that their terminations were...
Page 379 - ... of the fick : when removed to quarters, or encamped for any length of time in one place, the hofpital was obferved to fill rapidly. This obfervation was uniformly verified, as often as the experiment was repeated.
Page 379 - A foldier, notwithstanding he may have received the king's pay for twenty years or more, remains in fome degree a tyro till his body has been inured to fatigue, and prepared to bear, without danger, the effects of the climate in which he may be deftined to ferve.
Page 418 - ... above mentioned are consistent with this tendency of the economy, as all of them mark either tertian or quartan periods. These periods, however, are not promiscuously mixed, but occupy constantly their several portions in the progress of the disease ; so that, from the beginning to the eleventh day, a tertian period takes place ; and from the eleventh to the twentieth, and perhaps longer, a quartan period is as steadily observed. CXX. What determines the periods to be changed about the eleventh...
Page 347 - I proceed to this, it may not be improper in this place to take notice of...
Page 93 - I confidered as a matter of fome importance, I provided myfelf with the almanack of the year 1776, and marked, in the blank leaf of it, the precife date of attack, of all thofe fevers which came under my care. In looking over thofe memoranda at the end of the year...
Page 385 - ... degrees of activity, may often enable him to make use of his men to the best advantage on service. I may add in this place, that bathing will be extremely useful in most cases, in increasing the vigour and preserving the health of soldiers serving in warm climates. No doubt there will occur many cases in which it is improper : but in general, it may be employed with great benefit.

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