ERUPTIVE FEVERS. 



DCLXVI. These are the circumstances which, taken to- 

 gether, give the character of the disease ; but it is accompanied 

 with many symptoms almost peculiar to itself, that, in different 

 persons, are greatly diversified in number and degree, and 

 should be particularly studied. I would wish to lay a founda- 

 tion for this ; but think it unfit for a person who has never 

 seen the disease to attempt its particular history. For this, 

 therefore, I must refer to the authors who have written on the 

 subject; but allowing those only to be consulted, who have 

 themselves seen and treated the disease in all its different forms. 



DCLXVII. From the accounts of such authors, it appears 

 to me, that the circumstances which particularly distinguish 

 this disease, and especially the more violent and dangerous 

 states of it, are, 



First, The great loss of strength in the animal functions, 

 which often appears early in the disease. 



Secondly, The stupor, giddiness, and consequent staggering, 

 which resembles drunkenness, or the headach, and various 

 delirium ; which are all of them symptoms denoting a great 

 disorder in the functions of the brain. 



Thirdly, The anxiety, palpitation, syncope, and especially 

 the weakness and irregularity of the pulse, which denote a con- 

 siderable disturbance in the action of the heart. 



Fourthly, The nausea and vomiting, particularly the vomit- 

 ing of bile, which shows an accumulation of vitiated bile in the 

 gall-bladder and biliary ducts, and from thence derived into the 

 intestines and stomach ; all of which symptoms I suppose to de- 

 note a considerable spasm, and loss of tone, in the extreme ves- 

 sels on the surface of the body. 



Fifthly, The buboes or carbuncles, which denote an acri- 

 mony prevailing in the fluids. And, 



Lastly, The petechias, haemorrhagies, and colliquative diarr- 

 hoaa, which denote a putrescent tendency prevailing to a great 

 degree in the mass of blood. 



DCLXVIII. From the consideration of all these symptoms, 

 it appears, that the plague is especially distinguished by a spe- 

 cific contagion, often suddenly producing the most considerable 

 symptoms of debility in the nervous system or moving powers, 

 as well as of a general putrescency in the fluids ; and it is from 



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