3'2S Medicine. [Chap. IV, 



ternal disorders are to be ascribed to some preter- 

 natural affection of the living solid*. 



Hoffmann's pathology of fever deservedly excited 

 great attention. Though he undertook, like many 

 of his predecessors, to inquire into the intentions 

 of nature, he certainly contemplated her process in 

 fever with more sagacity; and, rejecting chemical 

 and mechanical analogies on this subject, endea- 

 voured to discover the cause of fever in the pecu- 

 liar nature and affections of the vital motions. He 

 supposed the noxious cause producing fever (in 

 the language of the schools, the remote cause) to 

 operate first on the living solids, producing a ge- 

 neral spasm of the nervous and fibrous system, be- 

 ginning in the external parts, and proceeding to- 

 wards the centre. In consequence of this, a con- 

 traction of the vessels of the extremities must of 

 course take place, impelling the circulating fluids 

 in an increased ratio on the heart and lungs; 

 which stimulating these organs to increased action, 

 the fluids are thereby repelled towards the extre- 

 mities, and thus the phenomena of fever are pro- 

 duced. There are, therefore, according to Hoff- 

 mann, two distinct sets of motions in fever 5 the first, 

 from the extremities towards the centre, arising im- 

 mediately from the spasm, and accompanied by a 

 small pulse, anxiety, and oppression; the second, 

 from the centre towards the surface, which is the 

 effort of nature to resolve the spasm, and indicated 

 by a full strong pulse and increased heat. The 

 lirst of these sets of motions is baneful, and som^T 



* Vide Fred. Hoffmann. Opera Omnia Phi/sico-Medicit, vol, i, 

 M(d. Rat. Syntaii. toin. iiJ, § I, cap. iv^ p. J08. Geneva edition. 



