When the body is thrown into disorder by an attack of fever, the first step to be taken is to clear the stomach and bowels of their crude and acrid contents, consisting either of the food imperfectly digested, or the depraved natural secretions. So great is the disturbance produced by such offending matter, that, when nature is freed from this embarrassment, the functions of the body are frequently by this alone restored to their proper exercise, and a remission produced. It seems probable also, that this evacuation proves salutary not only by removing the morbid stimulus, but by preventing the absorption of corrupted or ill-concocted juices into the mass of blood, which would tend still farther to derange the functions of life. But perhaps the circumstance that first suggested the utility of evacuating the stomach, as the first step in the cure of fevers, was the nausea so common in the beginning of them, which may be considered as a natural indication of this practice. It farther appears rational, that, as acute diseases generally come on suddenly, and find the body in a state of repletion from the recent _ingesta_, the most obvious means of relief should be to free the bowels, and particularly the stomach, from what is foreign and oppressive to it. It seems also probable, that the _nausea_ and the act of vomiting have a salutary effect independent of evacuation; for I have seen relief produced from these when nothing was evacuated. Such, indeed, is the great and universal influence and sympathy of the stomach, that the operation of vomiting affects every fibre of the body, and has been known to resolve tumours in the most distant parts. An early administration of an emetic is therefore the first step to be taken in the treatment of this as well as most other fevers. If it is given in small divided doses, it will most probably evacuate the bowels downwards; and the most convenient form for this purpose is a solution of emetic tartar. If it should not have this effect, some brisk purgative medicine should be given soon after the operation of it. I mention these evacuations before blood letting; for though this ought to be first in those cases in which it is proper, it is here seldom necessary, and we may pronounce it to be a remedy very ill adapted to this sort of fever, particularly in a hot climate. It sometimes happens, however, that there is violent head-ach, pain of the back and limbs, with a throbbing pulse; and these symptoms may in the very beginning not only justify, but require the losing some blood before the administration of the emetic or purgative.