350 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
FEVERS 
May be said to be a diffused inflammatory process over the 
system. Ofthe many theories which have been put forward to 
account for the fever condition, the most reasonable and 
concise is that it is an effort of nature to throw off poisons 
from the body. Our space being very limited we have no 
room for theorising further upon this diseased condition. 
There are certain symptoms that are common to all fevers: 
lassitude, weakness of the muscles, with an expression 
of inward distress, aversion to action either of mind or body, 
chilliness. ‘These may be called induction signs of fevers in 
general, which are usually succeeded by alternate chills and 
heat, restlessness, a sensation of soreness, flushing of the face, 
dryness of the skin, which 1s hot to the touch; the pulse is 
quickened, with headaches and wandering of the mind. 
These symptoms clearly indicate that fever is present and 
should be attended to at once, as in most fevers nature needs 
assistance to throw them off. Causes of fevers are divided 
into three; first, the remote, which may be said to include 
every departure from the laws of health; which predisposes 
the system to disease, the intermittent extremes of heat 
and cold, marsh damp, vegetable and animal effluvia. 
Intermediate causes: A morbid condition of the stomach and 
bowels, and obstruction to the circulation of the fluids. The 
proximate or exciting causes are, violent exercise, infection, 
poisonous matter in the blood, that excites the heart to an 
unnatural speed, which, unless checked, would soon exhaust 
the system. The indication for treatment in all fevers is to 
open the pores of the skin, clear the intestines, cleanse the 
stomach and the kidneys. Our readers, we think, know by 
this time how to do this. The Thompsonian course cannot 
be excelled for this purpose; if taken in time, it often, so to 
speak, sends the fever about its business; but while this is 
applicable to all fevers, there are special features in each variety 
of fever that may need peculiar treatment, Again we 
would ask our readers who can spare the time to read up the 
