IF I proximate cause of th plaint-; app mat- ter, contained in the fluids, artd • stimulating the nerves — lently, indeed, an irril tbi- lity of the nervous seem-; sufficient!) to ac :ountforthe production of a febrile disease, vet. in these eases also the cause has probably pr I, and been only excited by the additional stimulus. On the other hand, a fever may arise from any debilitat- ing or exciting cause ; for instance, wounds, passions, acrid purgatives, &c. without any pre-dispoMtion of the individual. Thus it may, in some measure, be explained, why- rude and uncivilized nations are but seldom afflicted with febrile disorders ; because these affections are peculiar only to persons of a nervous and relaxed habit. The following facts render it highly probable that the morbid matter of fevers is much disposed to putrefaction : 1 . Ail remedies which are successfully administer- ed in fevers, are of the antiseptic class ; such as salts, acids, cam- phor, Peruvian bark, &x. 2. Ani- mal food is in almost every febrile case detrimental to the recovery of health. 3. The excrements are uniformly of a putrid nature. 4. All foul matters easily produce fe- vers ; for instance, putrid exhala- tions and ulcers. 5. The genera- tion of heat is most remarkable in putrid fevers, and continues even for some time after death. — It is nevertheless rational to sup] that no fever can arise, even though a disposition should pre-exist in the solid parts of the body, till the ner- vous system becomes affected by the stimulus of acrid or morbid par- ticles ; and till a certain degree of .acrimony has been generated in the fluids. • : v [i6$ The remote or pre-di ribed either ; i r ra i k- of liv- ,'i-nn- turah I R< si ; the P is^lons and M n ! ; Wnkeful- i> ; Repletion, and Evacuation : or they are to be at- tributed to a certain general influ- ence ; such as famine, unwhole- some provisions, an unusual and irregular temperature of the air. &c. With respect to the more or less favourable prognosis in fevers, v e shall only observe: 1 . It is a favourable sign, if the efforts of nature are vigorous, and the evacuations do not take place till the febrile or morbid matter is digested; an event which rarely occurs previously to the 4th day, but generally on the 5th, 7th. Qth, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, l()th, 21st, 27th, and 31st day: hence these have been called the critical days; and, if this natural order cannot, in the present artificial state of society, be traced with the same accuracy as in former ages, such irregularity proceeds from the more frequent complication of diseases. — When the spasmodic strictures begin to abate, and the secretions, as well as the excretions, assume their natural colour and consist- ence, we may then conclude that the fever is on the decline : if, for instance, instead of a small, con- tracted pulse, a parched skin, and thin urine, the circulation of the blood become more uniform, the pulse softer and fuller, the urine more oily, and the discharges by stool be neither of a green colour nor too thin, a favourable change may then be expected to take place on the next of those days, termed critical. 2. Where
