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and shall be accompanied with other characteristics of fever con- 

 stituting a state of disease. 



10. Thus also it may happen to the same person at different 

 periods of his life: at an early period, to sustain an inflammation of 

 the toe or foot which will proceed to suppuration and finally to 

 recovery, embracing in its course the whole range or every degree of 

 action ; at a late period of life in the same seat and in the same indi- 

 vidual there might occur an inflammation exhibiting a perceptible 

 action or circulation, similar to that which had been formerly ex- 

 perienced; this last diathesis, instead of suppurating, instead of the 

 termination in recovery, may end in mortification, and perhaps death, 

 within 48 hours. Here, as in the other cases, there might be iden- 

 tity of degree (and if such identity is allowed on a comparison at 

 any period respectively of the two cases it is sufficient for the argu- 

 ment), but difference in the state of the governing principle. The 

 same might be observed of vitiated secretions; and indeed the same 

 results of comparison might be deduced in every instance of disease, 

 whether the comparison is made between similar conditions in 

 respect to degrees of action, &c. of the same person at different 

 times, or of others. If there is a single instance in which the degree 

 of excitement, which shall be estimated according to any standard 

 that might be proposed, will account for all the phenomena of 

 disease, I will never urge another objection against its sufficiency. 



11. If I were disposed to pursue this subject to greater length 

 I should shew the fallacy of some arguments which have beeu 

 urged in favour of the doctrine alluded to, as well as bestow a notice 

 on some others which might be made in reply to the preceding 

 objections; but this would be to anticipate a part of the subject 

 which will hereafter be distinctly spoken of. I shall here therefore 

 merely remark in addition, that the state which agrees with the pre- 

 cise though arbitrary condition of health, may obtain many times 

 in the course of disease, and yet under the use of ordinary diet or 

 of medicines, with whatever view directed, the constitution shall 

 digress repeatedly into the former state of disease which may ter- 

 minate either in death or recovery. Thus an intermittent pulse 

 might become regular, and in less than an hour may intermit again ; 

 thus a person shall be wholly freed from a collection of water, and 

 under the prevalence of habits which were previously compatible 

 with health shall again become anasarcous. These events depend 

 upon pre-disposition, or a state of the principle, the peculiarities of 

 which can neither be specified nor even conjectured. 



12. As much as has been said in regard to a pathology which 

 looks only to the degrees of excitement, &c. (which by the way can 

 never be ascertained by any single criterion) is generally applicable 

 to the doctrines which have been founded on the contractilities 

 before spoken of. 



13. Thus we say that such a one is a disease of excessive 

 irritability : we will take for example, as being familiar, an ulcer, 

 the indisposition of which to a healing process is attributed to 



