Civil War Washington

CASE 13.—Dizziness and drowsiness; intestinal symptoms slight; no rose-colored spots; defervescence about end of second week; convalescence on 24th day.—Private W. T. Smith, Co. C, 1st Long Island Vols.; age 20; was admitted Sept. 14, 1861. Diagnosis—typhoid fever. Ten days before admission he had chills, followed by fever, increasing debility, pain in the head and bones, anorexia and slight diarrhœa. He rested well after a bath and Dover's powder, and on the 15th the pulse was 88, tongue moist, red at the tip and sides, brown in centre, bowels regular, skin dry and warm. In the evening he was drowsy and had a sense of heaviness over the eyes; the bowels were quiet. Sulphate of magnesia was given with the effect of moving the bowels twice. After this the bowels remained quiet, but with some tenderness and gurgling in the right iliac region. The tongue became somewhat dry on the 18th, but regained its moisture in a few hours. The skin became moist on the 20th, the appetite returned, and the sense of heaviness in the head was removed. On the 22d turpentine emulsion and one ounce of brandy were ordered for administration every three hours. He rested poorly on the 24th and had some nausea and less appetite. Castor oil was administered, and repeated on the 26th and on the 29th, after which one drachm of extract of senna was given daily for some days on account of headache and dizziness. He was able to sit up on the 27th, and was transferred to Annapolis, Md., on October 10th. No rose-colored spots were observed in the case.