Source:  The Medical and Surgical History of the Civil War, Volume III

Extract from the Report of Surgeon John E. Sanborn, 27th Iowa Volunteers, Jackson, Tennessee, April 30, 1863.

During the last month we have had but few cases of continued fever.  A number of cases apparently threatening to become serious were speedily cut short with mercurials followed by quinine.  The most alarming case was that of Lieutenant B., of Company K, who had a violent chill followed by fever of extraordinary severity and duration.  This was broken up by the use of quinine, but within forty-eight hours severe pneumonia (congestion) of the right lung was developed, which in a few hours threatened to be speedily fatal.  He was rescued from this imminent danger by the prompt use of bliaters, with brandy, carbonate of ammonia, and quinine, and is now convalescent  Nearly all of our cases of protracted fever, assume a remittent or intermittent form, and seem to demand antiperiodics.

Diarrhea is less frequent then heretofore, partly from increased care in cooking, all cooking being done in messes and under careful supervision, and partly from the effects of an order prohibiting the sale of pies, cakes, &c. in the camp.  Most of the diarrheas assume primarily the form of hepatic congestion, and are generally speedily relieved at the onset, if opportunely treated with somewhat brisk mercurials, followed with saline laxatives.  Most of the catarrha have been the result of exposure to cold and wet, or have followed measles.