Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMESTIC MEDICINE. 221
of (he pustules, and to promote their maturation.
For this purpose the patient must be kept in such a
temperature, as neither to push out the eruption too
fast, nor to cause it to retreat prematurely. The
diet and drink ought therefore to be in a moderate
degree nourishing and cordial; but neither strong
nor heating. The patient’s chamber ought nei¬
ther to be kept too hot nor cold ; and he should not
be too much covered with clothes. Above all, the
mind is to be kept easy and cheerful. Nothing so
certainly makes an eruption go in as fear, or the
apprehension of danger.
The food must be weak chicken- broth, with bread,
panado, sago, or groat gruel, &c. to a gill of which
may be added a spoonful or two of wine, as the
patient’s strength requires, with a few grains of salt
and a little sugar. Good apples roasted or boiled,
with other ripe fruits of an opening cooling nature,
may be eaten.
The drink may be suited to the state of the patient’s
strength and spirits. If these be pretty high, the
drink ought to be weak ; as water gruel balm-tea, or
the decoction mentioned below
When the patient’s spirits are low, and the eruption
does not rise sufficiently, his drink must be a little
more generous; as wine whey, or small negus, shar¬
pened with the juice of orange or lemon, and made
stronger or weaker as circumstances may require.
Sometimes the miliary fever approaches towards a
putrid nature, in which case the patient’s strength
must be supported with generous cordials, joined with
acids ; and, if the degree of putrescence be great, the
Peruvian bark must be administered. If the head be
much affected, the body must be kept open by emol¬
lient clysters.
Medicine.—If the food and drink be properly