SUP I. 16. 10. THEORY OF FEVER. 5Q9 



capillaries cease to act with too great energy, and the fever is 

 cured. 



Thirdly. If the heart and arteries could he themselves stimu- 

 lated into greater action, although the stomach remained tor- 

 pid, they might prohably, by expending a greater quantity of the 

 sensorial power of irritation, prevent an accumulation of the 

 sensorial power of association, (for these may possibly be only 

 different modes of action of the spirit of animation,) and thus 

 the too great action of the capillaries might be prevented and 

 the fever cease. This new mode of cure might possibly be ac- 

 complished, if the patient was to breathe a gallon or two of pure 

 or diluted oxygene gas frequently in a day; which by passing 

 through the moist membranes of the lungs and uniting with the 

 blood might render it more stimulant, and thus excite the heart 

 and arteries into greater action. 



Fourthly. Greater energy might probably be given to the 

 whole system, and particularly to those parts which act too feebly 

 in fevers, as the stomach and the heart and arteries, if the 

 action of the secerning vessels of the brain could be increased in 

 energy; this is probably one effect of all those drugs, which 

 when given in large quantity induce intoxication, as wine and 

 opium. And when given with great caution in small quanti- 

 ties uniformly repeated, as from three drops to five of the tinc- 

 ture of opium, but not more, every six hours, I believe they sup- 

 ply an efficacious medicine in fevers with great arterial debility; 

 and the more so, if the Peruvian bark be exhibited alternately 

 every six hours along with them. There are other means of ex- 

 citing the vessels of the brain into action; as first by decreasing 

 the stimulus of heat by temporary cold fomentation; secondly, 

 increasing the stimulus of heat by long continued warm fomen- 

 tation; thirdly, by electricity, as very small shocks passed through 

 it in all directions; and lastly, by blisters on the head. All those 

 require to be used with great caution, and especially where there 

 exists an evident stupor, as the removing of that is, I believe, 

 frequently injurious. See Stupor, Class I. 2. 5. 10. 



The cure of fever with strong pulse consists in tbe repeated 

 use of venesection, gentle cathartics, diluents; medicines pro- 

 ducing sickness, as antimonials, digitalis; or the respiration of 

 carbonated hydrogen; or by respiration of atmospheric air low- 

 ered by a mixture of hydrogen, azote, or carbonic acid gas, or 

 by compressing the brain by whirling in a decumbent posture, as 

 if lying across a horizontal mill-stone. See the former parts of 

 this supplement for the methods of cure both of fevers with 

 strong and weak pulse. 



10. Whpji any difficulty occurs in determining the weak 



