546 IDENTITY OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AND RUBEOLA. 
leading phenomena will be no longer used after the discovery 
of the exact nature of the disease shall indicate a more appro¬ 
priate title. This fallacy of name has been the source of 
much perplexity and difficulty, particularly to those who 
were already familiar with the corresponding condition in 
human pathology; for they naturally applied old argu¬ 
ments to a new condition, on the presumption that 
the two were alike. It has likewise led to serious errors 
of treatment; for medical reasoners have affirmed that 
the one disease cannot be infectious, because another of 
the same name and of the same organs is not infec¬ 
tious. These reasoners have given primary attention to 
one part, and taking that for the whole, have proceeded in 
their partial view, overlooking the main portion, and there¬ 
fore have gone far astray, taking those along with them who 
trusted to them as guides. I do not affirm that every one 
has so reasoned, but I maintain that many have done and 
continue to do so, perpetuating all the confusion of ideas, and 
presenting facts in a light in w hich they are apparently con¬ 
tradictory, but which, if seen in another light, w ould be quite 
clear and reconcilable. This w 7 as excusable at first, w hen all 
w T as necessarily dark; but it will be no longer so when the 
true import of the most fatal condition becomes plainly 
understood. That the disease is no longer considered by the 
best authorities mere local inflammation is well known ; on 
the contrary, it is now fully recognised as, and is pronounced 
to be, a true zymotic fever, the affection of the pulmonary 
organs, originally supposed to be the only seat of disease, 
being a consequent—a specific consequent; that is, when¬ 
ever the disease runs on to the second stage it invariably as¬ 
sumes the form of an irregular inflammatory or congestive 
state of the respiratory system. That there is a primary stage 
at which the fever may cease and complete itself, is quite 
evident. In some cases it is so mild as to escape notice. 
Now, one great peculiarity of all zymotic fevers is that of 
having a primary and a secondary course, each of definite rela¬ 
tion the one to the other, the first giving all the immunity 
from a second attack as completely as if the second also had 
been passed through, which is nevertheless an essential part 
of the disease. Every one of these fevers has its primary 
stage running a certain w T ell defined course, and every one 
has the co-related special local complication or sequelae. For 
instance, if indeed instances need be alluded to, in scarlatina 
there is the peculiar febrile state proceeding w ith the utmost 
precision, and with the cessation of which the disease may 
end. If it do not, but pass onwards to the second state, an 
