236 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



to be increased 200 to 300 per cent., but such is the accuracy of 

 heat loss adjustment that the temperature of the body remains 

 normal. During fever, on the other hand, the production of heat 

 is increased only 20 to 40 per cent., but the dissipation of heat 

 is not proportional and therefore the temperature rises. 



The effects of fever have been shown experimentally by keep- 

 ing animals confined at a high temperature to cause their body 

 temperature to rise. They were found to develop a much more 

 effective defense against small but repeated doses of bacteria or 

 toxins than control animals. They lived longer and many of 

 them survived doses which killed the controls. This shows that 

 moderate degrees of fever are beneficial and stimulative to the 

 body. 



The treatment of fever should be directed toward keeping 

 it within bounds so as to prevent structural changes in the 

 internal organs, which occur when it .goes very high. Nature's 

 method of combating fever is by decreasing motion and appetite, 

 and increasing thirst. Means of promoting heat loss from the 

 body consist in the use of agents to dilate the blood-vessels near 

 the surfaces of the body, to increase the secretion of sweat, and 

 to increase the number of respirations per minute. No matter 

 what line of treatment is followed, the patient must be protected 

 from draughts and kept warm. 



Six ounces of Glauber's salts or frequent doses of sulpho- 

 carbolates will be found beneficial in the first stages of fever. 

 These simple remedies help to reduce the temperature by empty- 

 ing the intestinal canal, by hastening the elimination of 

 infectious materials through stimulating the intestinal gland 

 secretions, and by preventing bacterial action. Drastic purges 

 should be avoided, as they are likely to set up a diarrhea which 

 may be impossible to control. Various agents, known as anti- 

 pyretics or febrifuges, are used to reduce the body temperature. 

 They act either by preventing oxidation or stimulating the radia- 

 tion of heat. Among the medicines commonly used to reduce 

 fever are aconite and acetanilid, but they are dangerous in the 

 hands of the inexperienced. Furthermore, little benefit follows 

 their administration, because they act as poisons, not only to the 

 heat producing and regulating centers, but also to other impor- 

 tant centers, thereby lessening the natural resistance of the body 

 and the activity of the processes of repair. 



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