IN THE FEBRILE STATE. 



347 



tion flags, the increase of the bioplasm is favoured, and 

 the first abnormal augmentation takes place in those 

 organs, such as the liver, spleen, and lymphatic glands, 

 in which the circulation is slowest in the normal state, 

 and where the bioplasm is renewed according to the 

 very moderate demands of the system in health.* 

 But, besides this advantageous effect, the free action of 

 the circulation renders possible the removal of many 

 noxious materials tending to produce a paralysing or 

 poisonous influence upon the nerves distributed to the 

 capillaries, small arteries, and veins of the skin, urinary 

 organs, and bowels, as well as the nerve-centres with 

 which they are connected, upon the integrity of which 

 the condition of health is absolutely dependent. 



Such, then, so far as I have been able to make out, 

 is the interpretation of the phenomena which may 

 lead to the destruction of life, if bad cases of fever are 

 left to pursue their natural course. " Nature," it seems 

 to me, manifests neither a conservative nor reparative 

 action during the course of fever, and death may result 

 long before the period arrives when natural repair 

 becomes possible. But it would be a great mistake to 

 hold that " Nature " is responsible for the development 

 of the feverish state. The natural history of febrile 

 diseases is pretty well known by this time, and as in 

 many cases we are able to anticipate increase of fever- 



* From observations I have made, I think it probable that in acute, 

 severe fevers, from ten to twenty times as much bioplasm is produced in 

 a given time as would be formed in the healthy state. Not only is the 

 growth of'bioplasm favoured in those morbid states, but destruction of 

 the products of its decay is greatly impeded and retarded. 



