The medicinal treatment of smallpox in this stage and throughout the course of the disease must be mainly symptomatic. Upon careful nursing and the prompt treatment of the various symptoms as they present themselves we must depend in great measure for the fortunate termination in any case. The remedies and special methods which have been vaunted by some as tending to abort or modify the eruption and to lessen the severity of the disease, have been tested by others and found wanting. A specific for variola comparable in its action to that of mercury in syphilis or quinine in malaria is at the present time unknown, although, in view of the recent advances in antitoxic medication, the discovery of such is a hope that may possibly be realized in the near future. A high degree of fever in the initial stage of smallpox with intense headache and backache are symptoms which call loudly for relief, although they may not betoken a corresponding severity of the disease in its subsequent stages. Aconite, quinine, phenacetine, and other antipyretics are remedies which may now be advantageously given, and the daily cool bath, although it may not have the notable effect so often observed in typhoid fever, will assist in lowering the temperature. If the fever is combined with extreme nervousness, the old and reliable Dover’s powder will be found of service. In some cases delirium is present during the initial stage, and occasionally a suicidal tendency is manifested, which makes it necessary to have a watchful nurse in constant attendance upon the patient. Potassium bromide in full doses, chloral, or sulphonal may be advantageously employed as a sedative, but the most effective remedy is probably the hypodermic injection of the sulphate of morphine (gr. 1/4). If the headache, which is almost invariably present, is very severe, an ice-bag or cold cloth applied to the scalp will afford relief. The fear which has been entertained by some that such a procedure might tend to suppress the eruption is utterly groundless. For the lumbar pain, of which the patient often complains, a hot application will usually feel more grateful. The custom of applying mustard-plasters to the lower part of the back is not to be recommended, since the irritation of the skin which is caused thereby is liable to increase the eruption in that region and add to the subsequent discomfort of the patient. The theory that the eruption can be lessened upon the face by increasing the number of lesions upon some other part of the body has never proved successful in practice. The sensation of thirst which is always present, and is often intolerable, can be alleviated by frequent sips of cold milk or by weak lemonade, either hot or cold. If there is extreme nausea and vomiting, as is usually the case with children, small pieces of ice dissolved in the mouth will relieve it together with the excessive thirst.