FEVER. 341 



ture reaches its average height. The length of the onset and the 

 temperature during this period is variable. 



.•i«Ht' (stadium fastigium ) is that period of time that the 

 temperature remains high. It is the time from the termination 

 of the onset to the beginning of the decline. 



Decline (stadium decrementi) is the time extending from the 

 termination of the acme until the temperature reaches the nor- 

 mal level. A sudden decline, i. e., when the temperature sud- 

 denly changes from acme to normal, is called crisis. In a icn~ge 

 percentage of the cases of fatal equine pneumonia the tempera- 

 ture suddenly drops from the acme to normal, or even subnor- 

 mal, the sudden change (^crisis) causing death. Excessive varia- 

 tions, as a sudden rise of temperature of a sudden fall of tem- 

 perature (ma)' be to subnormal) are of rather frequent occur- 

 rence a short time before death and is called the moribund or 

 premortal stage, A gradual decline from acme to normal is 

 called lysis. 



Conz'cilcscciicc is that period extending from the time that the 

 temperature becomes normal until the animal has recovered. 

 This period varies in length, a long continued fever essentially 

 requiring a long period for convalescence. The temperature 

 variation during this period is inconstant, but usually there is 

 only slight fluctuation from the normal. 



Varieties. — Fevers mav be classified according to course, to 

 duration, and to temperature variation as follows : 



According to the course fevers are regular and irregular, typi- 

 cal or atvpical. A regular fever is characterized by the appear- 

 ance of the various stages or periods of fever as described above. 

 An irregular fever is one in which the stages are not distinct or 

 are not regular in their appearance and duration. 



According to duration and temperature variations, fever may 

 be ephemeral, continuous, remittent or intermittent. 



Ephemeral fever is of brief duration, usually lasticig not longer 

 than 24 hours. It is the type of fever observed in nervous, ex- 

 citable animals. This variety of fever may be produced at will 

 by some nervous women. 



Continuous fever is that type in which there is a continuous 

 high temperature. In continuous fever there are usually morn- 

 ing and evening variations the same as in the normal tempera- 

 ture. Croupous' pneumonia without complications is an example 

 of disease in which there is a continuous fever. 



Remittent fever is characteristic of pyemia and is recognized 

 by the irregularly periodic variations of temperature in which 

 the temperature is always above normal. 



