Civil War Washington

CASE 108.—Mild typhoid grafted on remittent fever.—Private R. R. Lassey, Co. A, 4th Mich.; age 28; was seized with headache, weakness and nausea about Sept. 6, 1861, and on the 16th was admitted as a case of typhoid fever. In the evening the patient's face was flushed and he had nausea and loss of appetite, pulse 92, skin warm and moist, tongue moist, yellowish and heavily coated, bowels quiet. Ten grains each of calomel and jalap were given; two dejections followed, and next morning the tongue was cleaner at the tip and edges. Quinine was ordered. In the evening there was no fever, the skin was cool, moist and perspiring; one stool was passed during the day, and there was tenderness in the right iliac region. On the morning of the 18th there was no fever, the skin being cool and moist, and the abdominal tenderness relieved; but in the evening the patient had one thin, large stool, and the right iliac region became acutely tender. Dover's powder was prescribed. On the 19th there was tympanites and the iliac region continued tender, but the skin remained cool and moist and the bowels quiet. The condition of the patient was changed on the 20th only by the diminution of the tympanites; one stool was passed during the day. On the 21st there was deafness with anxiety of expression; there was also some thirst, but the appetite was good and skin natural. The tongue was clean on the 22d, the pulse 68, small and soft, the skin natural, the bowels quiet and neither tender nor tympanitic, but the face was somewhat flushed. In the evening rose-spots made their appearance, and a second crop on the 24th. Wine and bark were ordered. He was reported as walking about on the 30th, and was transferred to Annapolis, Md., October 1.