Treatment of Consumptive Fever

Abstract

When a consumptive fever occupies and burns the body, bleeding is fruitless, nor should the belly usually be troubled with a purge. Cold remedies are helpful, and moist juices: therefore use cream of barley and broths of veal and young kid, lettuce and fresh leaves of purslane: give woman’s milk or milk of cow or goat or slow-footed ass, or of sweet almond. Express the jelly or distil the broths of snails, of turtle, plump turtle-doves and fowls. Liquorice water relieves thirst and makes a black mixture with white Indian sugar, stoned figs and raisins, jujube and violet syrup. If the stomach languish and the body’s forces fail, use but little wine: soften dry skin with sweet water: let the air that enters the nostrils be warm and moist. Sleep is promoted by water-lily and seed of lettuce and white poppy, calm rest and song. Apply a poultice to the heart made of conserve of violets, roses, water-lilies and added vinegar: and often smear the chest with freshest butter, making a pleasing linctus with sugar syrup: and for food give beef-broth.