FEVERS. 525 



bility, and what good symptoms to increased action. But in 

 general we can see a foundation for a great part of the various 

 combinations of the circumstances of fever, and particularly for 

 that combination which is the most frequent in this very climate, 

 where fevers put on at first the appearance of the inflammatory, 

 but in their continuance assume the nervous form. For when 

 the cause of debility is not very strong, as hi northern climates 

 is frequently the case, and the vigour of the constitution inclines 

 it to the inflammatory diathesis, the fever takes the inflamma- 

 tory form ; but when, by the repetition of the paroxysms, both 

 the force of the spasm, and in some measure the energy of the 

 sensorium are diminished, the fever subsists in a nervous form ; 

 and it is to such a combination and form of fever that we have 

 appropriated the term of Synochus. My aversion to change 

 terms has made me employ this ancient word, which implies a 

 continued fever. 



" Synochus probably universally arises from a contagion of a 

 particular nature, and this may be often traced. It is to be con- 

 sidered as a disease arising from the same contagion as Typhus, 

 but which, merely from the accidental circumstances of climate 

 or temperament, puts on the appearance of an inflammatory 

 fever in the beginning. The disease most commonly puts on 

 this form in young persons of a robust habit, so that in an army 

 consisting of men in the prime of life, it appears in the form of 

 synochus, that is, it begins with a considerable degree of inflam- 

 matory symptoms." 



LXX. The Typhus seems to be a genus comprehending 

 several species. These, however, are not yet well ascertained 

 by observation ; and in the meantime we can perceive, that 

 many of the different cases observed do not imply any specific 

 difference, but seem to be merely varieties, arising from a differ- 

 ent degree of power in the cause, from different circumstances 

 of the climate or season in which they happen, or from different 

 circumstances in the constitution of the persons affected. 



LXXI. Some of the effects arising from these circumstances 

 require to be particularly explained. 



One is, an unusual quantity of bile appearing in the course 

 of the disease. This abundance of bile may possibly attend 

 some continued fevers, strictly so called ; but for the reasons 



