332 Medicine. [Chap. IV. 



action of tlie heart and larger arteries is increased, 

 and continues so till it has had the effect of restor- 

 ing the energy of the brain, of extending this energy 

 to the extreme vessels, of restoring therefore their 

 action, and thereby especially overcoming the 

 spasm affecting them ; upon the removing of which, 

 the excretion of sweat, and other marks of the re- 

 laxation of excretories, take place*." 



As Hoffmann's theory of fever evidently produced 

 that of Cullen, it is proper to ascertain the points 

 of variance between them. According to Hoffmann, 

 the first effect of the remote cause of fever is the 

 spasm, producing a reaction, as has already been 

 stated in the account given of his doctrine. Cullen 

 introduced a previous link into the chain of effects: 

 he contended that the first effect of the noxious 

 power (the remote cause) was a general debility, 

 consisting in a diminution of the energy of the 

 brain. To this debility he attributes the spasm, 

 and to the spasm the reaction of the heart and ar- 

 teries; which reaction continuing till the spasm is 

 n^solved, removes the debility and the disease. Ac- 

 cording to Hoffmann, the spasm belongs to the class 

 of motions MJiicli he pronomices to be baneful; 

 \\\i\ Cullen presumes it to be salutary, and there- 

 iore ascribes it, in the language of the schools, to 

 the vis medico I rix natuvcv. 



Dr. Cullen's theory of fever was received with 

 great applause, and, for a considerable time, main- 

 tained its ascendancy, especially in the British do- 

 minions and in the I'nited States. Few, however, 

 at the present da}', seem to consider it as tenable. 



* Vh'i^t Lines of ihc Practice of Th^sic, vol. \, p. 55. 



