ON THE THEORY OF HEALTH. 9o 



a man to be equivalent to that of a gallon from a horse, or to 

 4 ounces from a dog, and vice versa ; selecting individuals 

 from each class at about the respective weights here set 

 down." (See Percival's Lectures, p. 9, vol. i.) 



ON THE THEORY OF HEALTH, DISEASE, FEVER, 

 AND INFLAMMATION. 



The Healthy or Physiological State. — When all the differ- 

 ent tissues and organs of the animal are sound, unobstructed, 

 and unwearied, — when the living principle has free action 

 through each and every one, according to the degree that it is 

 designed to sustain, — then the animal is in health. 



Disease. — Any injury done to the different structures of 

 organs, which does not amount to the total destruction of its 

 vitality, — or, in other words, the inability of an organ, or 

 organs, to perform the natural functions, is termed disease. 



Fever. — Fever and inflammation are one and the same thing. 

 They are not disease, and never should be treated as such. 

 It is the accumulated action of the vital system, for the pur- 

 pose of warding off or removing the causes of disease, and 

 restoring the healthy action of the organs. 



Let us suppose a horse has been exercised : there is a deter- 

 mination of heat and fluids to the surface, the pores of the 

 skin expand : now, if the horse is put into the stable, or the 

 exercise suddenly ceases, the heat escapes too fast, and leaves 

 the surface cold. For want of heat to keep them open and 

 active, the pores become constricted, so that after the organs 

 of circulation become rested from their fatigue, they com- 

 mence a strong action again, there is not room for the es- 

 cape of the fluids at the surface, the skin becomes dry and 

 harsh, the coat stares, and the animal has, in common par- 

 lance, taken cold, and it has thrown him into a fever. Now, 

 the cold is the real enemy to be overcome, and the fever 

 should be aided by warmth, moisture, friction, and diffusi- 



