FEVERS. 237 



tain or probable relief is to be obtained ; and 

 to promote those ends by every foir and gentle 

 means that may be justified by circumstances 

 or dictated by discretion. 



To enter into a tddions medical disquisi- 

 tion upon the origin of fevers, their different 

 degrees and effects, would exhaust the pa- 

 tience of the most patient inquirer; I shall 

 consequently avoid so unentertaining a de- 

 tail, and adhere to such explanatory parts 

 as become more immediately the objects of 

 information. To enumerate the possible 

 causes in which a fever may originate, would 

 be, in this work, equally impracticable ; they 

 are so much more symptomatic than self- 

 existino", that circumstances and careful at- 

 tention only must lead to the discovery. 



There is not the least doubt but a c^eneral 

 cutaneous obstruction, or sudden constric- 

 tion upon the perspirable pores (proceeding 

 from what cause soever), will constitute the 

 foundation of every fever to which the ani- 

 mal can possibly be subject : the matter 

 destined for perspiration, being forcibly re- 

 turned upon the vessels, is absorbed into 

 the circulation ; the passages are evidently 



