326 TREATMENT OF FEVER. 



substances resulting from the death of disease-germs 

 and of other forms of bioplasm. 



On Treatment based upon the fact of the Rise of 

 Temperature. Acting upon the hypothesis that the 

 danger to life from fever depends upon the increased 

 temperature, many physicians have adopted plans of 

 treatment which have for their object the carrying 

 off heat from the surface. This is accomplished by 

 the external application of cold. Although there is 

 evidence that cold to the surface does good in some 

 cases in which the body-heat is above the normal 

 standard, few physicians feel sufficiently satisfied that 

 conclusive proof has yet been adduced in favour of 

 the view that this indication" for treatment can be 

 with wisdom fearlessly followed out in all cases. 



This remarkable increased development of heat in 

 all fevers is probably an immediate effect of another 

 change. It is certainly associated with, and (I 

 believe) due to, very rapid growth of bioplasm, prin- 

 cipally in the slow-moving blood in the capillaries ; 

 but the bioplasm in the tissues external to the capil- 

 laries is also involved, and in some fevers in a very 

 remarkable degree.* The increase of the bioplasm 

 continues, as does also the development of heat, for 

 an hour or two (and in rare instances for a much 

 longer period) after death, and occasionally up to a 

 certain time even in an increased ratio ; and for this 

 reason : The bioplasm being perfectly still, and 



* See my " Report on the Cattle Plague." 1866. 



