FEVERS. 249 



common term of '^ a distemper among the 

 '^ horses." As epidemic diseases appear dif- 

 ferently at different seasons, varying in symp- 

 toms, for which no exact cause can be as- 

 certained or reason supported, but the ex- 

 cessive drought of one season^ or dense atmo-^ 

 sphere of another, it must evidently appear 

 that, under such circumstances, no accurate 

 description of corresponding symptoms can 

 . be collected from books without a very mi- 

 nute and proper attention to the nature of 

 attack, 



*Xo these leading traits all the judgment 

 ^nd penetration of the farbier, or superin--- 

 fendanty must be directed; for as such dis- 

 orders are in general complicated, and not 

 distinguishable under any particular head, 

 but partaking of many, every striking symp- 

 tom should be well observed as distinouished 

 from its opposite, or classed with its conco* 

 mitant, till a parallel being drawn betweeu 

 its most predominant features, some cfegree 

 of certainty is ascertained, to which class it 

 bears the greatest affinity, or to what head it 

 " proper/}/ belongs. And as this work abounds 

 with medical aids, carefully adapted to every 

 purpose, the reader cannot possibly be so 



