2i6 FEVER AND 



Fever and inflammation are always characterized 

 by an elevation of temperature varying from one or 

 two, twelve, or even fifteen degrees, above the normal 

 standard. If this is not, as I believe it to be, a conse- 

 quence of the increase of bioplasm or living matter in 

 the organism, the two phenomena are invariably asso- 

 ciated. Principally and primarily there is increase of 

 the bioplasm or germinal matter of the blood and of 

 that in the capillary vessels, but afterwards that of 

 the tissues undergoes the same change. This increase 

 of germinal matter is itself due to the presence in the 

 blood of pabulum, and its accumulation in undue pro- 

 portion. The constituents of this pabulum ought to 

 have been eliminated by various glands as fast as 

 they were formed, or other compounds should have 

 been produced instead, which being more highly 

 oxidized would have been readily got rid of in the 

 form of urea, uric acid, carbonic acid, and other sub- 

 stances easily excreted. 



In a common cold, and in any slight feverish attack 

 from which we may suffer, there is evidence of increase 

 of the germinal matter in the blood, of consequent 

 impairment of free circulation through the capillaries, 

 and of increase of the bioplasm upon various mucous 

 surfaces. These phenomena are accompanied by a 

 temperature higher than the normal standard. 



Congestion in many of the surface capillary vessels 

 is invariable in all fevers. Upon local or general dila- 

 tation of the small arteries and capillaries of the 



