ACTION OF SECRETING ORGANS. 355 



of diarrhoea, occurring during the period of incubation 

 of virulent fever-poison, has mitigated the subsequent 

 attack of fever consequent upon the multiplication in 

 the body of the special fever-germs. This conclusion 

 is supported by the fact, that in many cases all the 

 symptoms of commencing continued fever have sud- 

 denly ceased upon the occurrence of free action of the 

 skin, kidneys, and bowels. Of course, no one can say, 

 in any given case, that the symptoms were really due 

 to the actual presence of contagious poison in the 

 blood, which was destroyed or removed in conse- 

 quence of the rapid outpouring of soluble materials 

 and water ; but a number of considerations render it 

 probable that such an inference is really correct at 

 least in some instances. 



In many of those struck down by contagious fever, 

 there has been for some time previously imperfect 

 action of the eliminating organs, during which period 

 the blood was acquiring a state favourable to the 

 growth and multiplication of disease-germs. When 

 the excreting organs do not act properly, certain sub- 

 stances, which ought to be eliminated, get reabsorbed 

 by the blood, and then the composition of the cir- 

 culating fluid becomes altered, and its properties 

 modified. Nor is it astonishing that excrementitious 

 substances, perhaps modified in character, and circu- 

 lating freely among the most delicate tissues of the 

 body, should derange their action. Sick headache, 

 certain muscular and nerve pains, aching of the limbs, 



