Civil War Washington

CASE 62.—Slight diarrhœa; dizziness; rose-spots on 10th day; improvement at end of 2d week.—Private George W. Olney, Co. A, 4th Mich.; age 18; became sick about Sept. 9, 1861, with weakness, headache, diarrhœa and slight fever without chills, and was admitted on the 16th. Diagnosis—typhoid fever. He had epistaxis; his pulse was 70 and full; skin warm and moist; tongue pale, flabby and slightly coated white; bowels quiet. Ten grains each of calomel and jalap were prescribed. He had three passages from the bowels during the night, and next day the skin was warm and sweating. Rose-colored spots appeared on the 18th, and the tongue began to clean; there was some dizziness but no mental dulness​; two thin large stools were passed, and there was tenderness in the right iliac region. On the 19th the pulse was 70; tongue tremulous, pale at the edges and coated in the middle; bowels quiet; skin hot and moist. Quinine was given. Next day the skin was natural; there was no tenderness nor tympanites; the countenance was pleasant and the eyes bright. A few dark rose-colored spots appeared on the 22d. The bowels remained quiet until the 23d, when they were moved seven times, but there was no accompanying tenderness, meteorism nor gurgling; the appetite was good, the tongue pale, gray in the centre but cleaning at the tip. Opiate enemata controlled the diarrhœa and the patient improved on tonics and stimulants. He was able to walk about on October 1, when he was transferred to Annapolis, Md.