EMACIATIONS. 561 



commonly exist, I shall be the less concerned about the accu- 

 racy of my general classification: though at the same time 

 this, I think, is always to be attempted ; and I shall pursue it as 

 well as I can. 



" It is not possible to say any thing more on the class gen- 

 erally considered. It is artificial, comprehending diseases which 

 have little connexion with one another. I give therefore very 

 little introduction to either the class or the orders ; but if we 

 keep in view what belongs to particular diseases, we need be less 

 anxious about the establishment of orders and classes." 



BOOK I. 



OF EMACIATIONS. 



MDCI. Emaciation, or a considerable diminution of the 

 bulk or plumpness of the whole body, is for the most part only 

 a symptom of disease, and very seldom to be considered as a 

 primary and idiopathic affection. Upon this account, according 

 to my general plan, such a symptom might perhaps have been 

 omitted in the Methodical Nosology : but both the uncertainty 

 of concluding it to be always symptomatic, and the consistency 

 of system, made me introduce into the Nosology, as others had 

 done, an order under the title of Marcores; and this renders 

 it requisite now to take some notice of such diseases. 



" I believe for my own part, that all the marcores are symp- 

 tomatic, and not primary diseases ; it is merely in compliance 

 with the other systems that I have at all proposed to enter into 

 the consideration of these two genera. 



" You will perceive that my character of tabes is not com- 

 plete, and that by removing the phthisis from this order, I have 

 been led into an omission. This it is perhaps not necessary to 

 supply ; but you may add to the definition sine tussi et expec- 



VOL. II. 2 N 



