SIMPLE CONTINUED FEVERS. 
The necessity of any fever acquiring this title, has always appear- — 
_ ed doubtful to me. From the experience I have had in them, - 
I conclude that they are “ simple continued fevers,” only from suf- 
Ferance. However, as they have acquired a name among diseases, I 
will describe them. . “s 
Fevers of this type continue for several days, with nearly the same 
degree of violence, having evident exacerbations and remissions - 
daily.—T hey are composed of a combination of inflam y and 
typhoid or putrid symptoms ; the former being apt to prepond 
at the commencement, the latter towards the tefmination of the dis- 
ease. It is contagious, and of frequent occurrence in this country. 
‘ 
Remore causes.—Every thing having a tendency to enervate 
the body ; as bodily fatigue, great indulgence in sensual pleasures, — 
violent exertions, intemperance in drinking, and now and then from 
Suppression of long accustomed evacuations; with all the causes 
_ enumerated under the general observations on fevers. ‘The days — 
on which it is supposed the termination of continued fevers usually 
happens, are the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, fourteenth, — 
seventeenth, and twentieth. : 
* 
Symproms.—An attack of this fever generally begins with 
guor, or a sense of debility, sluggishness, aversion to motion, yawn- 
ing and stretching ; the face at the same time becoming pale, and 
the skin over the whole body constricted ; subsequently a sensation 
of cold in the back, passing thence over the whole frame ; and 
these continuing to increase, tremors in the limbs, and cold shiver- 
ings succeed. With these, there is a loss of appetite, want of taste = 
in the mouth, pains in the head, back, and loins, and a small and 
frequent respiration. The sense of cold after a little time becomes 
less violent, alternated with flushes; and at length going off alto- 
gether, it is succeeded by great heat, diffused over the whole body ; 
the face appears flushed, the skin and tongue dry ; universal restless- 
ness prevails, with violent pain of the head, oppression of the chest, 
sickness at the stomach, with inclination to yomit. There is likewise 
great thirst and costiveness, and the pulse is full and frequent, produ- 
cing from 90 to 120 pulsations a minute. When these symptoms run — 
high, and there is considerable determination of blood to the brain, de- 
lirium will ensue. There is generally in all continued fevers an in- 
crease of symptoms towards evening. — 
UnravoraBLk symproms.—If the disease is likely to prove fatal, 
either in consequence of its long continuance, or the severity of 
_ the symptoms, there will be observed a starting of the tendons, the 
Patient picking the bed clothes; involuntary rere 
_ 8nd stool; coldness of the extremities, and hiccups; 
such appearances occur, the fever will run its course, 
mately Gye “ == See 
