456 INTRODUCTORY LECTURES. 



tinguished as much by their series of symptoms in succession 

 as by the concourse present at any time. Thus fevers in gen- 

 eral, and particularly intermittents, are distinguished by the 

 series and succession of the different stages of each paroxysm, 

 and especially by the repetition of several paroxysms ; nor can 

 the exanthemata be in general distinguished but by joining the 

 fever and the eruption. In such cases, therefore, we must sub- 

 mit to the nature of things, and allow the character of the dis- 

 ease for some days to be uncertain. 



The third rule is, that the notes chosen should be expressed in 

 clear and very intelligible terms, and, if possible, in terms the 

 meaning of which is already fixed in the science. Vogel, in charac- 

 terizing Pruritus, has the term ' dolorifica voluptas ;' such an ex- 

 pression certainly ought not to be employed. In like manner, 

 Linnaeus characterizes a fracture as ' ossis solutio citra substan- 

 tiae dissolutionem,' which expression is repeated in the three 

 characters of Luxatura, Ruptura, Contusura, following this. 

 Now it is difficult to see a meaning here, or to find one which 

 is proper. 



Linnaeus has been remarkable for inventing useful terms, 

 and for fixing the precise meaning of others ; but having been 

 successful in many instances, he has been too bold in others, and 

 has introduced many terms which we perhaps can never explain. 

 Thus, in the definition of Miliaria, he says, ' febris synocha su- 

 dore foatido punctorio :' understanding by these words, a sweat 

 which comes out with a sensation of pricking, like the points of 

 pins, in various parts of the skin ; but the meaning certainly is 

 not sufficiently clear. Again, in his definition of Lassitudo, we 

 find, 'debilitaspowderosec/ in that of Hysteria ' verticis pressioj 

 instead of what has been otherwise called clavus hystericus ; in 

 that of Scurvy ' opacitas faciei,' a darkness of the countenance. 

 But among other obscure expressions is particularly the term Do- 

 lor, which is in all the systems taken for every uneasy sensation 

 arising from diseases, all the ' sensationes molestae ex morbo/ 

 Thus the class Dolores, of Sauvages, comprehends Anxietas, 

 Lassitudo, Stupor, &c., all of which are considered as genera, 

 whereas they certainly are, in strict propriety, only certain un- 

 easinesses, but not strictly pain. 



The want of due precision of language affects many parts of 



