FEVERS. 481 



class pyrexia by the name of fever, the character of which is, 

 ' praegressis languore, lassitudine, et aliis debilitatis signis, 

 pyrexia sine morbo locali primario. 1 



" This part of the character, 6 praegressis languore, lassi- 

 tudine, et aliis debilitatis signis,' is left for introducing the other 

 marks of debility ; and we might add here the anorexia, nausea, 

 and vomiting, as some part of the same ; and further, that the 

 pulse will be found to be always weaker before the attack. But 

 whatever be in that, let me observe that these symptoms of de- 

 bility are particularly to be found in the beginning of all inter- 

 mittents, and in the most part of those continued fevers which we 

 would arrange under the Typhus or Synochus. But with re- 

 spect to the Synocha, we have not an opportunity of observing 

 the debility that precedes. But further, in giving the charac- 

 ter of a disease, it never rests on a single symptom, but on a 

 concourse of them ; so that whatever difficulty there may be in 

 applying the ' praegressis languore, lassitudine, et aliis debilitatis 

 signis 1 in Synocha, we are relieved by what is subjoined, c sine 

 morbo locali primario ;' and indeed this last would have been 

 sufficient. Here you will take notice of the phrase c morbo 

 locali primario,' for if every word be not of importance, it ought 

 not to be in the definition. The * morbus locahV may be very 

 universal, but here I use it in the common acceptation. Thus, 

 in a fever, an inflammation may supervene, or, from some con- 

 current cause, may attend a fever, but then it is not the primary 

 disease upon .which the fever depends ; so that the import of 

 the whole definition is what constitutes fever." 



IX. Fevers, as differing in the number and variety of their 

 symptoms, have been very properly considered as of distinct ge- 

 nera and species. But we suppose, that there are certain circum- 

 stances in common to all the diseases comprehended under this 

 order, which are therefore those essentially necessary to, and 

 properly constituting the nature of fever. It is our business, 

 especially, and in the first place, to investigate these ; and I 

 expect to find them as they occur in the paroxysm or fit of an 

 intermittent fever, as this is most commonly formed. 



" The beginning the class Pyrexia with the ' Febres strictius 

 dictae, 1 is evidently proper, as their characters run through those 

 of all the other orders. So we shall begin with considering 



