FEVERS. 563 



mulus applied, or of a strong spasm formed, the latter appear- 

 ing in a considerable suppression of the excretions. 



" ' Marks of determinations of blood to the brain, lungs , 

 or other important viscera? The excess of stimulant power 

 may be dangerous merely by the repeated and violent excite- 

 ment, and the state of debility that necessarily follows. But 

 while the increased action is very general, and without any par- 

 ticular determination, I doubt if it ever by itself proves mor- 

 tal ; and while it is thus general, nothing is more in our power 

 than to reduce it, as in practice we find nothing easier than 

 to diminish the powers of the system. But we find that in the 

 case of an inflammatory diathesis to a very considerable de- 

 gree, if it is not so determined as to destroy an organ whose 

 function is of importance to life, the body will not only sustain 

 it for a long time, but it is curable. I infer this from the con- 

 sideration of the case of Rheumatism, where the inflammatory 

 symptoms are as high as in any case whatever ; but the deter- 

 minations are changeable, and are made into parts, the func- 

 tions of which are not of immediate importance to life ; and 

 this disease is so generally curable, and, while thus general, so 

 seldom mortal, that I, conclude that the excess of stimulant 

 power, while general with respect to the system, is of no dan- 

 gerous consequence. 



" We therefore consider the excess of stimulant power as 

 chiefly dangerous, when it is attended with topical determina- 

 tions to organs whose functions are of immediate consequence to 

 life. And we proceed to consider when the determination is to 

 the brain, to the lungs, or to the abdominal viscera. 



u With respect to all of these, when the determination is ac- 

 companied with considerable topical inflammation of a particular 

 part, i. e. when it is attended with Phrenitis, Peripneumony, Gas- 

 tritis, Hepatitis, or any other of the Phlegmasiae affecting these 

 parts, it is commonly sufficiently obvious, by the peculiar symp- 

 toms accompanying these inflammations. Now, if that was all, 

 we would only have to refer to what are the symptoms of these 

 particular phlegmasiae for what we have in view. But very 

 often, on dissection after fevers, we find the marks of inflamma- 

 tion, gangrene and sphacelus in these several parts, when, dur- 

 ing the course of the fever, the symptoms of each are by no 



