168 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



DCXXXIII. This disease also depends upon a specific con- 

 tagion, and affects persons but once in their lives. 



" With regard to this, as to all other contagions, we know 

 nothing of its peculiar nature but by certain effects ; and here 

 again, the conduct of the disease turns entirely upon obviating 

 or correcting these effects, without regard to their peculiar cause, 

 and to the nature of the matter that produced them." 



DCXXXIV. It occurs most frequently in children ; but no 

 age is exempted from it, if the persons have not been subjected 

 to it before. 



DC XXXV. It commonly appears as an epidemic, first in 

 the month of January, and ceases soon after the summer 

 solstice ; but various accidents, introducing the contagion, may 

 produce the disease at other times of the year. 



DCXXXVI. The disease always begins with a cold stage, 

 which is soon followed by a hot, with the ordinary symptoms of 

 thirst, heat, anorexia, anxiety, sickness, and vomiting ; and 

 these are more or less considerable in different cases. Some- 

 times from the beginning the fever is sharp and violent'; often, 

 for the first two days, it is obscure and inconsiderable, but al- 

 ways becomes violent before the eruption, which usually hap- 

 pens upon the fourth day. 



DCXXXVII. This eruptive fever, from its commencement, 

 is always attended with hoarseness, with a frequent, hoarse, dry 

 cough, and frequently with some difficulty of breathing. At the 

 same time, the eye-lids are somewhat swelled, the eyes are a lit- 

 tle inflamed, and pour out tears ; and together with these symp- 

 toms, there is a coryza, and frequent sneezing. For the most 

 part, a constant drowsiness attends the beginning of this dis- 

 ease. 



" The measles are certainly attended with a catarrh in the 

 whole Schneiderian membrane of the nose, in thefauces, and bron- 

 chiae, which continues at least during the time of the eruption ; 

 and the same determination frequently takes place to the alimen- 

 tary canal, and more or less diarrhoea occurs upon the receding of 

 the measles. It was SydenhanVs sagacity which discovered that 

 this was of the inflammatory kind, and to be cured by bleeding. 

 Though I find few practitioners who understand the meaning 



