TEVEli.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[fever. 



consequence of surgical operations, especially the iufiammation be near the heart, but per- 



after firing or blistering. 



This fever is known and distinguished by 

 several names ; some calling it inflammatory, 

 some symptomatic, and others sympathetic. 

 It is sometimes idiophatic ; that is to say, it 

 occasionally originates at the same time with 

 the local inflammation, and from the same 

 causes. In other instances — indeed, in all 

 ordinary surgical cases — it is symptomatic, or, 

 in other words, it is produced, not directly by 

 the causes which originally produced the in- 

 flammation, but in consequence of the sym- 

 pathy of the whole constitution from the dis- 

 turbed state of the part. 



The idiophatic inflammatory fever is said to 

 be always preceded by chilliness. The symp- 

 tomatic, or sympathetic inflammatory fever 

 sometimes takes place so quickly, in conse- 

 quence of the violence of the existing cause, or 

 of the local inflammation, that no preceding 

 coldness is observable. 



If, however, the local inflammation is more 

 slowly induced, and consequently operating 

 more gradually on the system, then the cold- 

 ness is evidently perceived. 



The symptomatic fever induced by wounds 

 or other injuries, is excited more slowly, and 

 its period of formation is longer. This fever 

 is not produced when the inflammation only 

 afiects parts in a slight degree, but it con- 

 stantly makes its appearance if the local in- 

 flammation is considerable, or if it afiects very 

 sensitive parts. 



The degree in which this fever is excited, 

 does not altogether depend on the absolute 

 quantity or violence of the inflammation, but, 

 in a great measure, on the degree of local 

 inflammatory action, compared with the natural 

 power and action of the part aftected. Parts, 

 in which the action is naturally slow, are 

 extremely painful when inflamed, and the 

 system sympathises greatly with them. Hence 

 the constitution is very much affected when 

 tendons, hones, or ligaments are the parts 

 inflamed. Severe inflammation of a large 

 joint, every one knows, is apt to excite a 

 most alarming, and even a fatal derangement 

 of the system. 



In common parts, as muscle, cellular mem- 

 brane, skin, &c., the symptoms will be acute, 

 the pulse strong and full, and the more so, if 

 202 



haps not so quick as when the part is far 

 from it. 



If the inflammation is in tendinous, liga- 

 mentous, or bony parts, the symptoms will be 

 less acute. The stomach will sympathise more, 

 the pulse will not be so full, but perhaps 

 quicker ; there will be more irritability, and 

 the blood will not be so much pushed into 

 the small vessels ; and therefore it will forsake 

 the skin. 



It seems to be a material circumstance, that 

 parts near to the heart, always exhibit symp- 

 toms more violent, and the constitution is 

 more affected, than when parts are situated 

 further from that source of circulation. 



If the heart or lungs are inflamed, either 

 immediately, or affected secondarily by sym- 

 pathy, the disease produces more violent effects 

 upon the constitution, than the same quantity 

 of inflammation would produce, if the part 

 affected was not a vital one, or one with which 

 the vital parts did not sympathise. If the part 

 is such as the vital ones readily sympathise 

 with, then the sympathetic action of the latter 

 will aflfect the constitution. 



When the inflammation is situated ia a part 

 not very essential to life, and causes a general 

 affection of the system, called inflammatory fever, 

 the pulse is fuller and stronger than in general, 

 and the blood is pushed further into the ex- 

 treme arteries, than when the inflammation is in 

 a vital part. The animal, after showing many 

 occasional symptoms, is at first rather roused. 

 The pulse is as described when the consti- 

 tution is strong and not irritable ; but if this 

 is extremely irritable and weak, as in many 

 animals it is, the pulse may be quick, hard, and 

 small, at the commencement of the iufiam- 

 mation, just as if vital parts were affected. 

 The blood also may be sizy, but it will be loose 

 and flat on the surface. 



The ordinary symptoms of inflammatory 

 fever, accruing in consequence of local inflam- 

 mation in common parts, are as follows : the 

 pulse is frequent, full, and strong ; all the secre- 

 tions are diminished ; the animal is restless ; the 

 perspiration is obstructed ; the skin is dry and 

 hot ; the hair staring ; the urine high-coloured, 

 and made in small quantities ; and the mouth 

 hot and dry, attended with great thirst. These 

 are the consequences. 



