[ 6i 3 ] 
fo eflential to the definition of a fever, as to be a 
pathognomonic fymptom of it. But experience is 
againft this notion: perhaps the prefent cafe is a 
proof of the contrary; however this be, there haw 
not been wanting inftances, in which, towards the 
end of a fever, the pulfe has grown quiet, without 
the abatement of any other fymptom, and the pa- 
tient hath generally lain comatofe, and with the ap- 
pearance of one, who hath taken a large quantity of 
opium. Galen, in the third book of the Prefages of 
the Pulfe, mentions this fymptom, and pronounces 
it to be almoft a fatal fign : and the fame thing hath 
happened in more inftances than one, which have 
come to my knowlege. May not then the above- 
recited cafe lead to this ufeful inquiry, Whether in 
fevers of every kind, when the pulfe is quiet, the 
bark is not proper to be given, and likely to prove a 
remedy ? In this cafe it proved absolutely fuch . and 
that it is at leaft a fafe medicine in all fuch cafes, in 
which any practitioner of experience or judgment 
would ever think of giving it, is now certainly known. 
;p or jyiy own part, I can fafely declare, that in near 
ten years experience of it in Guy s-Hofpital, during 
which time I find I have given it, on different occa- 
fions, to above five hundred patients in that houie 
only, I never, from the moft accurate obfeivation I 
could make, faw it do any harm, or bring on any 
bad fymptom, even in cafes where it did not fucceed 
•according to the intention for which it was ordered ; 
and (which I have thought worth remarking) in 
chronical cafes, even in thofe, where the bark hath 
been by many thought the moft prejudicial, when, 
•on the coming on of an intermittent fever, the bark 
