This is also called Hospital, Jail, Camp, Putrid, and Ship Fever. It is usually preceded by lassitude, debility, and loss of appetite, and ushered in by rigors and chills, and characterized by frequent exacerbations and declines during its progress. It generally presents itself as an epidemic, and runs a uniform course. From the third to the seventh day of the fever the peculiar petechial eruption occurs. It is of a florid, reddish, or reddish-pink color, disappearing on pressure, which distinguishes it from the petechiae of typhoid. The breathing is hurried, the skin dry and hot, the tongue thickly coated, and the thirst urgent. There is great distress about the head, which often results in delirium. This stage of excitement continues generally, with little increase or abatement in the symptoms, for some time. The fever is greatest towards evening, least in the morning. The bowels are generally costive, and if it continues for some time, all the secretions become vitiated, the body exhaling a nauseous odor, and the tongue, gums, and teeth become coated with a dark-brown slime. Collapse generally follows, voluntary powers depressed, surface relaxed, and diminished in temperature, often covered with a clammy sweat; pulse small and tremulous. The tongue becomes black and dry, voice faint, breathing short, feeble, and very anxious. The mental functions become greatly disordered, the patient is restless and fearful, his delirium is low-muttering, and he lies in a state of stupor from which he can be scarcely aroused. Often an irritating cough is present, coming on as if in convulsive paroxysms. In this stage of collapse the patient is disposed to lie on his back, with his feet drawn up, and there is a great tendency in his body to slide towards the foot of the bed. As the disease progresses, all the symptoms of prostration increase. A convulsive motion of the tendons, as in typhoid, is observed; his stupor becomes fixed; hiccough, involuntary discharges from the bowels, a cadaverous smell of the body, generally occur towards the close of the disease. Death, in violent cases, is generally preceded by extreme prostration, cold, clammy sweats, involuntary fecal discharges, and a discharge of grumous blood from the mouth, nose, and anus; or by convulsions.

This is a contagious disease, and emphatically one of poverty and low life.

TREATMENT. -- Place the patient in a well-ventilated apartment, wash the body with soap and water, and give an emetic and cathartic, if the patient's condition requires it. Then give quinine in two or three grain doses every two or three hours, until its effects are observable. Control the fever with veratrum, as advised in typhoid cases. If great prostration is present, add capsicum or prickly-ash to the quinine, which should be continued in regular doses throughout the greater part of the course of the disease. A decoction of ladies-slipper, or, preferably, cypripedin, in two or three grain doses every two hours, should be given in delirium or tendinous convulsions. Support the strength with iced-milk, chicken-broth, beef-tea, milk-punch, etc. The bladder should receive attention, and, if distended, should be evacuated by the influence of a sitz-bath, or by a catheter. In cases of cerebro-spinal congestions, make counter-irritations along the course of the spine, apply cold water to the head, and bottles of hot water to the feet. Convalescence is to be aided by the proper tonics, as golden-seal, columbo, etc., and complete repose should be allowed to the convalescent.