Civil War Washington

CASE 39.—Pneumonia occurring after the appearance of profuse perspiration and rose-spots.—Private Warren G. Butler, Co. I, 2d Me.; age 22; was admitted March 2, 1862. Diagnosis—pneumonia. This man had measles with severe sore throat in September, 1861. On the 4th he had headache and deafness; his cheeks were flushed and hot; pulse weak and rapid; skin hot and moist, showing on the abdomen some eruption, which disappeared on pressure; tongue dry and coated; two watery stools were passed; cough was troublesome, the respiration natural. Next day there was profuse perspiration and great thirst, the tongue remaining dry and coated; the bowels were constipated and the patient suffered from tormina and frequent nausea, tinnitus aurium and dizziness; the breathing became rapid and the cough aggravated. Ten grains of calomel were given with three of jalap. On the following day there was much tendency to stupor; four watery stools were passed during the night, after which the bowels became quiet. Little change occurred during the next two or three days. On the 10th profuse perspiration occurred; the expectorated matters were exceedingly viscid. Milk-punch, cod-liver oil and carbonate of ammonia were given. On the 11th the skin was natural, the pulse rapid and weak, the tongue moist, clean and tremulous, but the appetite remained poor; three watery stools were passed and the cough continued. During the next two days the quantity of the sputa diminished. On the 13th there was occasional nausea, and on the 14th the deafness was increased, although otherwise the patient seemed better, as the bowels were regular, the skin natural, the cough lessened and the sputa less viscid and more frothy. The deafness increased until the 19th, after which it lessened; the cough prevented sleep at night and the appetite did not return; the tongue was clean but unnaturally red in color. On the 25th, the last day on which the symptoms were entered, the appetite was improving. The patient was furloughed on April 8.