On the temperature in diseases : a manual of medical thermometry.

  • Wunderlich, C. A. (Carl August), 1815-1877.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the temperature in diseases : a manual of medical thermometry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Gerstein Science Information Centre at the University of Toronto, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto.

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    which is very often associatrd willi all tlio syin])toins of collapso. It may occur only once, and the Icniijeraturo may return to its former, perhajis moderate elevation, or it may repeat itiself daily, M'liile the intervenini' exaeerhations are still hut sliirlitlv moderated. § 26.—The period of defervescence or eooliiiL;; may conclude the fastigium or the amphiholii^ stage, or follow a critical disturb- ance, or he ushered in hy a ])criod of preparatory moderation. The temperature in this stage returns io the normal, and there are tiro vcU-niarlrd and different t//pes, although one may possibly sometimes pass into the other. Defervescence taking place rapidly, perhaps in a .single night, or, at all events, in about thirty-six hours :— rapid defervescence or crisis ; or the fever may abate gradually, the process occupying several days even—protracted defervescence or t^sis. The defervescence may consist of either a continuous fall in tempe- rature, which, however, when it lasts more than twelve hours, is less marked in the afternoon ; or of a fall in a remittent fashion, that is, interrupted by daily evening exacerbations. It is very common to meet with a state of collajhse in the course of the defervescence, in which the extremely low temperature is accompanied with other deceptive and seemingly very dangerous symptoms. These cases, however, although protracted, constantly end in recovery. § 27.—The more rapid and complete the stage of defervescence has been, the more clearly defined is the epicrilical 2'>criod (com- mencing convalescence). Sometimes the temperature returns com- pletely to the normal, and exhibits the same daily fluctuations as in health. But there is generally increased mobility, and a certain fickleness in the behaviour of the temperature. Once now and then the temperature remains below the average normal level. In some cases, and regularly in many diseases (especially in polyarticular rheumatism), it keeps above the usual height. Besides this, we sometimes meet with isolated, transient, but very significant rises of temperature (of 2, 3, or more degrees Centigrade, = 4, 6, or more degrees Fahr. nearly), of which the causes are sometimes nearly un- known, or seem but trifling. Eeal relapses, and secondary diseases, which also very frequently develop themselves at this special period, are also speedily recognised by the renewed rise of temperature. The duration and termination of the epicritical stage is not to be deter-