2 THE TONER LECTURES. 



My attention having been called to tlie matter, b}'' several 

 personal cases, I have been led to study the subject, and I 

 desire now to record briefly the results of an extensive search 

 of medical and surgical works as well as the records of indi- 

 vidual cases, in the hope that by grouping together many 

 isolated instances, I may be able to contribute somewhat to 

 our exact knowledge of the surgical complications and sequels 

 of the continued fevers, both as to their causes, the means of 

 their early recognition, the best methods of treatment, and if 

 possible that still higher object, the averting of dangers which 

 otherwise may prove disastrous to health, and too often to life 

 itself. 



The exanthematous fevers are better known as causes of 

 surgical troubles, and I have therefore carefully excluded them 

 as well as a few cases following intermittent fevers. 



1 shall omit entirely all well-known results of a semi-surgical 

 character, such as hemorrhage from the nose and bowels, peri- 

 tonitis, with or witliout perforation, erysipelas, a not infrequent 

 complication about the face, or when bedsores exist, and cases 

 of thrombosis of the veins, which causes a variety of phleg- 

 masia deserving a more extended study than it has yet received,^ 

 Bedsores and the ordinary abscesses are too well known to 

 demand other than passing allusions. Much as I regret to do 

 so, I must also omit, from want of time, the consideration 

 of the forms of disease which especially interest the ophthal- 

 mic surgeon. Ulceration and perforation of the cornea are 

 briefly, but I may say completely, treated by Trousseau.* 

 Post-febrile ophthalmia or amaurosis, a peculiar retino-choroi- 

 ditis which follows only relapsing fever, first described by 

 Hewson in 1814, and Wallace in 182T, has been so carefully 



' See Bibliography " Phlegmasia," where I have grouped the most 

 important references. 



2 Clinique Med. de I'Hotel-Dieu, 2d ed., p. 271, and Gaz. des Hop., 

 1856, 170. 



