Dia^OSis. — The  symptoms  differ  from  those  of  common  cold


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COMPLICATIONS — ERYSIPELAS.  109

chiefly  in  their  sudden  appearance  and  rapid  extension  among  a
population,  their  disconnection  with  either  a  low  or  a  sudden  vari-
ation of  temperature,  the  great  febrile  disturbance  which  prevails,
general  prostration  and  nervous  depression  which  accompany  and
follow  the  disease,  and  in  their  protracted  diuration.  In  many
cases  there  is  a  herpetic  eruption  around  the  mouth.
Symptoms. — Chilliness  or  coldness  down  the  spine,  anxiety,
feverishness,  frontal  headache,  pains  in  the  limbs  and  back,  severe
paroxysms  of  cough,  nausea,  loss  of  appetite,  vitiated  taste,  aching
pain  and  suffusion  of  the  eyes,  sneezing,  thin,  acrid  discharge
from  the  nostrils,  and  extreme  muscular  prostration.  In  short,
all  the  symptoms  which  characterize  Gravedo,  Coiyza,  and  Bron-
chitis respectively,  are  often  present  in  Influenza.
Treatment. — 1.  Uncomplicated  Influenza, — Camph.,  Aeon,
(chills),  Ars.
2.  With  troublesome  cough, — ^K.  Bich.
3.  Tedioua  or  imperfect  recovery, — Sulph.,  Phos.,  Ars.
Diet  and  Regimen. — Farinaceous  food,  and  if  there  be  great
prostration,  beef -tea,  with  repose  in  bed,  or  on  a  couch.  In  many
cases,  confinement  in  bed  for  a  day  or  two  is  quit«  necessary  for
the  safety  of  the  patient,  and  always  hastens  recovery.  The  room
should  be  warm,  well  ventilated,  and  the  patient  placed  so  as  to
avoid  draughts.  If  there  be  much  fever  preseat,  with  loss  of
appetite,  toast-and-water  or  barley-water  will  be  suitable.  For
severe  cough,  the  air  of  the  room  should  be  kept  moist  by
conducting  into  it  the  steam  from  a  boiling-kettle  by  means  of  a
tube,  or  by  putting  boiling  water  into  flat  shallow  vessels;  also
inhalation  of  hot  vapor  is  useful  (see  '^Inhalation,"  pp.  50-51).
When  the  fever  abates,  a  more  generous  diet  should  be  allowed.
