GENERAL THERAPEUTICS OP FEVER 83 



reaction of the body against the invading microorganisms, which 

 are rendered harmless by the high temperature and the increased 

 formation of antitoxins. In addition, attention must be called 

 to the harmful effects of many antipyretics upon the digestion 

 and the nervous system. 



So long as the infectious fever does not deviate from its typical 

 course and the nervous system, the heart and the digestive organs 

 are not endangered by an excessively high or a very long con- 

 tinued fever, the expective method is entirely rational. It must, 

 however, be abandoned immediately whenever, because of the 

 tj^e, height or continuance of the fever, the general condition, 

 especially the activity of the heart and brain and the appetite for 

 food, is disturbed. 



3. The symptomatic treatment of fever by the use of anti- 

 pyretics, cardiac stimulants, nerve stimulants, digestive tonics, 

 derivatives (cathartics, diaphoretics, sialagogues, diuretics) and 

 cutaneous irritants is of the most practical importance in veterinary 

 medicine in the treatment of the febrile infectious diseases. Among 

 the different symptoms of fever, a considerable rise of temperature 

 is the most significant and the most dangerous to life. Temper- 

 ature-reducing drugs (see below) are therefore of first importance 

 in the treatment of fever. In addition, in severie disturbance of the 

 cardiac functions and of the nervous system the administration of 

 cardiacs and nerve excitants is also indicated (see those chapters). 

 The cathartics empty the intestinal canal (infectious material), 

 hasten the elimination of infectious material and toxins from the 

 blood by stimulating the intestinal gland secretions, overcome the 

 constipation frequently present in fever, and also reduce tempera- 

 ture. Reduction of temperature together with a change in the 

 distribution of the blood is produced by cutaneous irritants (oil of 

 mustard, Priessnitz dressing). Phlebotomy, formerly employed 

 for its derivative action, has passed out of use. 



4. The bath treatment of fever (thermic method, hydrotherapy) 

 in the form of cold baths (20-30° C.) is an important method in 

 human medicine, especially in the treatment of abdominal typhus. 

 In veterinary medicine, for technical reasons, this method, as a 



