184 The Milchill'ian Theory of Fever 



in, that it excites, no difturbance at all in their conftitutions, 

 while ftrangers fall viftims in the gfeateft abundance. Now, 

 common intermitting paroxyfms are inftances of temporary 

 feafonings, which the conftitution experiences, of a kind 

 quite analogous to what is perpetual with the Guinea 

 negroes. 



" The cold fit fometimes does terminate in death ; and this 

 happens when the conftitution cannot acquire the habit of 

 enduring the noxious caufe with impunity. In the gene- 

 rality of cafes, however, the ftimulus of the infectious gas 

 Iofes its power to operate before the conftitution is debilitated 

 to death ; and as foon as it becomes, for this time, fo much 

 accuftomed to the vitiated air, as no longer to be difturbed 

 by its prefence, the cold fit ends. The length and violence 

 of the cold fit will thus be, ceteris paribus, in a compound 

 ratio of the impediment given to the refpiration by the in- 

 fectious gas, and the facility with which the conftitution ac- 

 commodates itfelf to its action : if three perfons then in- 

 habit one houfe, it is poffible that one may become fo 

 quickly accuftomed to the air as to have no diftemper; 

 a fecond may have a moderate difeafe of but a few fits ; 

 while the third, poffefled of a conftitution not eafily moulded 

 to a new habit, may be incommoded by a violent and ob- 

 ftinate malady. 



<( In every paroxyfm of an intermittent, the infection thus 

 wears itfelf out; but this is only a temporary reconcile- 

 ment of the body to its action; when, after a repetition of 

 fits, the diforder becomes milder and milder, and after a 

 while wholly ceafes. This is a cafe of lafting reconcile- 

 ment ; and in ttiis way may a large portion of fmall inter- 

 mittents cure themi'elves, while the credit is given to the 

 bark ! This power of habit daily does wonders, and labours 

 more eftec^uallv for the good of the fick than bark, opium 

 and antimony put together. 



*' The attack of thefe caufes being thus for a time over- 

 come, refpiration grows free, full, and frequent; becaufe 



there 



