Fever
A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal. A normal temperature can vary from person to person, but it is usually around 98.6 °F (37 °C). A fever is not a disease. It is usually a sign that your body is trying to fight an illness or infection.
Infections cause most fevers. You get a fever because your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused the infection. Most of those bacteria and viruses do well when your body is at your normal temperature. But if you have a fever, it is harder for them to survive. Fever also activates your body's immune system.
Other causes of fevers include:
- Medicines, including some antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, and anti-seizure medicines
- Heat illness
- Cancers
- Autoimmune diseases
- Some childhood vaccines
Treatment depends on the cause of your fever. If the fever is very high, your health care provider may recommend taking an over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Adults can also take aspirin, but children with fevers should not take aspirin. It is also important to drink enough liquids, to prevent dehydration.
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Fever
BRONCHITIS
In the incipient stage, quinine with a little Dover powder and a laxative may ward off the attack. If inflammatory action is estab lished, active diaphoretics (the hot foot bath, hot lemonade witliwa little whiskey, Dover powder, chamomile tea or other hot infusion), yconite if required for fever, application to chest of Phenol Camphor; ipecac and potassium salts to promote secretion; inhalations of steam or of moisture-laden air. Later adapt remedies to condition of patient. As expectorants use ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, lobelia, senega, etc., combining these with henbane, heroine or codeine to allay excessive cough. As case progresses, use terpin hydrate or terebene, oil oi sandalwood, eucalyptol and similar remedies. Eucalyptol in spray or by inhalation is very eflicient. When there is hypersecretion, avoid ammonium chloride and use belladonna, strychnine and counter-irritation.1
In the incipient stage, quinine with a little Dover powder and a laxative may ward off the attack. If inflammatory action is estab lished, active diaphoretics (the hot foot bath, hot lemonade witliwa little whiskey, Dover powder, chamomile tea or other hot infusion), yconite if required for fever, application to chest of Phenol Camphor; ipecac and potassium salts to promote secretion; inhalations of steam or of moisture-laden air. Later adapt remedies to condition of patient. As expectorants use ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, lobelia, senega, etc., combining these with henbane, heroine or codeine to allay excessive cough. As case progresses, use terpin hydrate or terebene, oil oi sandalwood, eucalyptol and similar remedies. Eucalyptol in spray or by inhalation is very eflicient. When there is hypersecretion, avoid ammonium chloride and use belladonna, strychnine and counter-irritation.1
FEVER
The remedies commonly resorted to include; 1st cardiac or ar terial sedatives, particularly aconite, 2d antipyretics causing reduc tion of temperature, to be used always with due caution and wholly avoided in typhoid conditions, 3d applications of cold water which constitute a measure almost always serviceable, 4th sedatives and anodynes, which may well be combined with diaphoretics. These several classes of remedies must be suited to the individual case, bearing in mind the fact that fever is not in and of itself necessarily an evil thing.1
The remedies commonly resorted to include; 1st cardiac or ar terial sedatives, particularly aconite, 2d antipyretics causing reduc tion of temperature, to be used always with due caution and wholly avoided in typhoid conditions, 3d applications of cold water which constitute a measure almost always serviceable, 4th sedatives and anodynes, which may well be combined with diaphoretics. These several classes of remedies must be suited to the individual case, bearing in mind the fact that fever is not in and of itself necessarily an evil thing.1
INTERMITTENT FEVER
The prophylaxis consists in destroying the mosquitoes whose bites communicate the disease. Quinine (15 to 30 grains or more) given two hours before the expected chili, is the remedy. This should be given on an empty stomach, and preceded by a cholagogue cathartic. Other remedies of importance are arsenic, methylene blue and the other alkaloids of cinchona bark.1
The prophylaxis consists in destroying the mosquitoes whose bites communicate the disease. Quinine (15 to 30 grains or more) given two hours before the expected chili, is the remedy. This should be given on an empty stomach, and preceded by a cholagogue cathartic. Other remedies of importance are arsenic, methylene blue and the other alkaloids of cinchona bark.1
MEASLES
Follow general treatment for Fevers, q. v., prescribing for symp toms as they arise. Do not use cold water as an antipyretic.1
Follow general treatment for Fevers, q. v., prescribing for symp toms as they arise. Do not use cold water as an antipyretic.1
PERNICIOUS FEVER
Efficient doses of quinine must be given promptly by hypoderma_ tic or intravenous injection.1
Efficient doses of quinine must be given promptly by hypoderma_ tic or intravenous injection.1
PUERPERAL FEVER
Irrigate the uterine cavity thoroughly with mercuric chloride solution (1:2000); if necessary employ curette (with caution) to remove decomposing substances; touch ulcerated spots in vagina with solu tion ol silver nitrate, 10 per cent. Sustain the patient, giving alco— holic stimulants freely; treat complication of peritonitis on general principles; if infection extends to bladder, irrigate well with strong solution of boric acid, or with corrosive sublimate, 1:8000.1
Irrigate the uterine cavity thoroughly with mercuric chloride solution (1:2000); if necessary employ curette (with caution) to remove decomposing substances; touch ulcerated spots in vagina with solu tion ol silver nitrate, 10 per cent. Sustain the patient, giving alco— holic stimulants freely; treat complication of peritonitis on general principles; if infection extends to bladder, irrigate well with strong solution of boric acid, or with corrosive sublimate, 1:8000.1
REMITTENT FEVER
Quinine in large doses. proceeded by calomel and a saline purge is the standard treatment. Hematuria is a contraindication. In chronic cases arsenic is the most important remedy. Intestinal or renal hemorrhages must be treated on general principles.1
Quinine in large doses. proceeded by calomel and a saline purge is the standard treatment. Hematuria is a contraindication. In chronic cases arsenic is the most important remedy. Intestinal or renal hemorrhages must be treated on general principles.1
SUNSTROKE
Distinguished between thermic fever, with high temperature and laboring heart, and heat exhaustion, with surface cool and circulation depressed. In the former case apply cold to surface, watching the effect, and using friction to draw blood to the surface. Bleeding may do good, but antipyretic remedies are of no use. In heat ex haustion apply heat to the surface.1
Distinguished between thermic fever, with high temperature and laboring heart, and heat exhaustion, with surface cool and circulation depressed. In the former case apply cold to surface, watching the effect, and using friction to draw blood to the surface. Bleeding may do good, but antipyretic remedies are of no use. In heat ex haustion apply heat to the surface.1
TONSILLITIS
A good routine treatment is; a mercurial followed by a Seidlitz powder, with aconite to control fever, application to the tonsils of tincture ferric chloride containing quinine sulphate (4 grs. to the drachm) or guaiacol; externally, hot fomentations (the hop poultice is eflicient) or Glyceroplasma. Phenol Camphor may be used external ly with advantage in some cases. In mild recurrent attacks, Ton sillitis tablets (see p. 189) are often efficient. In rheumatic subjects, iodides, sodium salicylate and tincture guaiac should be used.1
A good routine treatment is; a mercurial followed by a Seidlitz powder, with aconite to control fever, application to the tonsils of tincture ferric chloride containing quinine sulphate (4 grs. to the drachm) or guaiacol; externally, hot fomentations (the hop poultice is eflicient) or Glyceroplasma. Phenol Camphor may be used external ly with advantage in some cases. In mild recurrent attacks, Ton sillitis tablets (see p. 189) are often efficient. In rheumatic subjects, iodides, sodium salicylate and tincture guaiac should be used.1
TYPHOID FEVER
Medication except to meet special indications is probably useless, although the Woodbridge treatment has its advocates. Antipyre tics are not to be used. A milk or koumys diet is best; in any case the food must be soft and easily digested. Alcoholic stimulants must be used to maintain strength, but not to the point of producing ex citement, circulatory or cerebral. Cold sponging or cold baths serve to reduce temperature. Danger of perforation must always be borne in mind, and will govern choice of remedies for constipation. In later stages, oil of turpentine becomes the most important remedy, to be used both internally and externally.1
Medication except to meet special indications is probably useless, although the Woodbridge treatment has its advocates. Antipyre tics are not to be used. A milk or koumys diet is best; in any case the food must be soft and easily digested. Alcoholic stimulants must be used to maintain strength, but not to the point of producing ex citement, circulatory or cerebral. Cold sponging or cold baths serve to reduce temperature. Danger of perforation must always be borne in mind, and will govern choice of remedies for constipation. In later stages, oil of turpentine becomes the most important remedy, to be used both internally and externally.1
References
1) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.