422 ANDROPHYSICS. 



bably from a diseased state of the blood. Among these diseases, are 

 phrenitis, or inflammation of the brain ; glossitis, or inflammation 

 of the tongue ; tonsillitis, of the tonsils, commonly called quinsy ; 

 parotitis, called also the mumps, an inflammation of the parotid 

 gland ; laryngitis, or inflammation of the larynx ; trachitis, of the 

 trachea, or windpipe ; bronchitis, of the bronchi ; and pneumonitis, 

 or pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs. These latter diseases 

 often commence with a catarrh, or cold, and may terminate in 

 phthisis, or consumption.* To the phlegmasiaB also belong gas- 

 tritis, or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach ; 

 enteritis, or similar inflammation of the bowels, which, when acute, 

 is termed dysentery, but when caused by irritation, with but slight 

 fever, is called diarrhoea; hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver; 

 splenitis, of the spleen ; nephritis, of the kidneys ; and cystitis, of 

 the bladder. 



To these diseases, we may add rheumatism, or inflammation of 

 the muscles and tendons ; and arthritis, podagra, or gout, charac- 

 terized by inflammation in the joints of the feet and hands. Ophthal- 

 mia, or inflammation of the eyes ; and otitis, of the internal ear, 

 are the last of the phlegmasiae, which we have room to name. The 

 treatment of these diseases, of course, varies with their causes and 

 symptoms ; but it consists generally, in removing obstructions, by 

 cathartic medicines ; reducing the febrile action, if necessary, by 

 blood-letting ; and otherwise soothing and relaxing the parts affected, 

 so that they may be restored to their proper state, and enabled to re- 

 sume their functions in a healthy manner. 



3. Under the head of Eruptive Diseases, we would compre- 

 hend those disorders which, though usually accompanied by fever, 

 are characterized by cutaneous eruptions ; and hence termed Exan- 

 themata, in several systems of Nosology. Of this class of diseases 

 are the oriental plague, and the variola, or small pox ; diseases 

 which have, in times past, made such fearful ravages among man- 

 kind. The varicella, or chicken pox ; the vaccinia, or cow pox ; 

 and other varioloid affections, come next in this class ; after which 

 we would name rubeola, or the measles ; scarlatina, or scarlet 

 fever ; and erysipelas, or St. Anthony's fire ; all attended with erup- 

 tions of the skin. These diseases, though febrile, are regarded as of 

 a specific character, or produced by special causes ; and they are 

 generally contagious. The mode of treating them, is of course, 

 similar to that of fevers proper ; and consists in arresting dangerous 

 action, if possible ; and watching the disease, until it has run its 

 course. 



The minor Exanthemata, or eruptive diseases, comprise the differ- 

 ent forms of herpes, or tetter ; as the ringworm, and shingles, dis- 

 tinguished by an assemblage of small ulcers ; also pemphigus, or 

 vesicular fever, producing small blister-like eruptions ; urticaria, or 

 nettle rash, with smarting blotches ; miliaria, or miliary fever, with 

 small white vesicles, resembling millet seed ; erythema, with red 

 spots on the skin ; roseola, or rosy rash, affecting the skin with rose- 



* Several of them are comprehended under the designation of cynanche, or sore 

 throat. 



