INTUMESCENTIjE. 619 



CHAP. IV. OF GENERAL SWELLINGS ARISING FROM 

 AN INCREASED BULK OF THE WHOLE SUBSTANCE 

 OF PARTICULAR PARTS. 



MDCCXVIII. Upon the subjects of this chapter, several 

 nosological difficulties occur, and particularly with respect to 

 admitting the Physconia into the order of General Swellings. 

 At present, however, it is not necessary for me to discuss this 

 point, as I am here to omit entirely the consideration of Phys- 

 conia ; both because it can seldom admit of any successful prac- 

 tice, and because I cannot deliver any thing useful either with 

 regard to the pathology or practice in such a disease. 



MDCCXIX. The only other genus of disease comprehend- 

 ed under the title of the present chapter, is the Rachitis ; and 

 this being both a proper example of the class of Cachexy, and 

 of the order of Intumescentiae or General Swellings, I shall of- 

 fer some observations with regard to it. 



OF RACHITIS, OR RICKETS. 



MDCCXX. This disease has been supposed to have ap- 

 peared only in modern times, and not above two hundred years 

 ago. This opinion, notwithstanding it has been maintained by 

 persons of the most respectable authority, appears to me, from 

 many considerations, improbable ; but it is a point of too little 

 consequence to detain my readers here. The only application 

 of it which deserves any notice, is, that it has led to a notion of 

 the disease having arisen from the lues venerea, which had cer- 

 tainly made its first appearance in Europe not very long before 

 the date commonly assigned for the appearance of rachitis : but 

 I shall hereafter shew, that the supposed connexion between the 

 Syphilis and Rachitis is without foundation. 



" It is commonly alleged that the rickets are a new disease, 

 which first appeared in England in the sixteenth century. This 

 to me is very improbable. It is true, we have no account of 

 this affection in the writings of the ancient physicians, but we 

 have sufficient marks of its existence in their time. Take no- 

 tice only of certain appellations among the Romans, such as 



