174 



IHE MODERN SYSTEM 



C H A P T E R XVII. 



Oi'- FEVER IN GENERAL, COMMON FEVER, DISTEMPER, OR INFLUENZA 

 MALIGNANT FEVER, SYMPTOMATIC FEVER, CATARRH, OR COM- 

 MON COLD. 



Under the head fever in general, I can 

 only class inflammatory fever as belonging to 

 the Horse ; it is paiticularly interesting to 

 veterinary surgeons, being frequently attend- 

 ant on surgical disorders, and especially after 

 liring, or blistering 



We have mentioned that in treating of in- 

 nammation, that a febrile disturbance of the 

 constkution is attendant on every considerable 

 inflammation. In the present article we shall 

 endeavour to give some account of the par- 

 ticulars of this disorder. 



The fever, about to be described, is known 

 and distinguished by several names ; some 

 calling it inflammatory, some symptomatic, 

 and others sympathetic. It is sometimes idio- 

 phatic ; that is to say, it occasionally origin- 

 ates at the same time with the local inflara-. 

 mation, and from the same causes. In other 

 instances, and indeed I may say in all ordinary 

 surgical cases, it is symptomatic, or in other 

 words, it is produced, not directly by the 

 causes which originally produced the inflam- 

 mation, but in consequence of the sympathy of 

 the whole constitution from the disturbed 

 state of the part. 



The idiophatic inflammatory fever is said to 

 be always preceded by chilliness. The symp- 



tomatic, or sympathetic inflammatory fever 

 sometimes takes place so quickly, in conse- 

 quence of the violence of the existing cause, 

 or of the local inflammation, that no preced- 

 ing coldness is observable. 



If, however, the local inflammation be more 

 slowly induced, and consequently operate 

 more gradually on the system, then the cold- 

 ness is evidently perceived. 



The symptomatic fever induced by wounas 

 or other injuries, is excited more slowly, ana 

 the period of formation is longer. This fever 

 is not produced when the inflammation on.y 

 affects parts in a slight degree, but it con- 

 stantly makes its appearance if the local 

 inflammation be considerable, or if it affects 

 very sensible parts. 



The degree in which this fever is excited, 

 does not altogether depend upon the absolute 

 quantity, or violence of the inflammation, but 

 in a great measure upon the degree of the 

 local inflammatory action, compared with the 

 natural power and action of the part affiected. 

 Parts, in which the action is naturally slow, 

 are extremely painful when inflamed, and 

 the system sympathises greatly with them. 

 Hence the constitution is very much affected, 

 when tendons, bones, or ligaments, are the 



