FEVERS. 



effervescence ? It is probable that this circumstance may in- 

 crease the refrigerant power of these salts, and may introduce 

 into the body a quantity of fixed air ; but for these purposes 

 it would seem proper to contrive that the whole of the efferves- 

 cence should take place in the stomach. 



CLXII. A third means (CLIII. 3.) of determining to the 

 surface of the body, and taking off the spasm subsisting there, 

 is by the use of sudorific medicines, and of sweating. 



CLXIII. The propriety of this remedy has been much dis- 

 puted ; and specious arguments may be adduced both for and 

 against the practice. 



In favour of the practice, it may be said, 



1. That in healthy persons, in every case of increased action 

 of the heart and arteries, a sweating takes place, and is seem- 

 ingly the means of preventing the bad effects of such increased 

 action. 



2. That, in fevers, their most usual solution and termination 

 is by spontaneous sweating. 



3. That, even when excited by art, it has been found ma- 

 nifestly useful, at certain periods, and in certain species of 

 fever. 



CLXIV. Upon the other hand, it may be urged against the 

 practice of sweating, 



1. That as in fevers a spontaneous sweating does not imme- 

 diately come on, so there must be in these some circumstances 

 different from those in the state of health, and which may there- 

 fore render it doubtful whether the sweating can be safely ex- 

 cited by art. 



2. That, in many cases, the practice has been attended with 

 bad consequences. The means commonly employed have a 

 tendency to produce an inflammatory diathesis ; which, if not 

 taken off by the sweat following their use, must be increased 

 with much danger. Thus, sweating employed to prevent the 

 accession of intermitting fevers, has often changed them into a 

 continued form, which is always dangerous. 



3. The utility of the practice is further doubtful, because 

 sweating, when it happens, does not always give a final deter- 

 mination ; as must be manifest in the case of intermittents, as 

 well as in many continued fevers, which are sometimes in the 



