A dissertation, on the causes and effects of spasm in fevers / pronounced by Mr. Nathan Smith, before the president, medical professors, and governors of Harvard University, at Cambridge, July 5th, 1790.

  • Smith, Nathan, 1762-1829.
Date:
[1791]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation, on the causes and effects of spasm in fevers / pronounced by Mr. Nathan Smith, before the president, medical professors, and governors of Harvard University, at Cambridge, July 5th, 1790. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    which firft gave rife to them being re- moved. Another circumftance which may ferve to fuppoit this opinion, if duly attended to, is the analogy between this order of fevers and ihtermittents which evidently arife from a conta- gion produced by other fubflances than human bodies ; this contagion agrees with that producing influenza and dyfentery, in its being capable of producing its effects more than once upon the fame perfon ; whereas thofe contagions producing febrile difeafes, and which arife from human bodies only, can arFecl the fame perfon, but once (e. g.) the meafles, final I pox, &c. Intermittenfs are alio mot't preva- lent in thofe feafons of the year moft favourable to putrefaction; and though they may appear at all feafons, yet it has long been known that they are chiefly contracted in the fpring and autumn ; and when they appear at oth- er feafons, it is commonly in confe- quence of their being protracted by fome means or other. On the other hand, thofe difeafes arifing from human contagion, appear as ofren in the winter, as at any other time ; and I think generally fprcad with the greateft rapidity in this fea- fon. It maybe fuggefted, that if this or- der of fevers was produced by vege- table fubi'lanccs, it would appear equally every year at the fame feafons ; this objection I would obviate by ob- ferving, that there are fome vegetables which are not produced in plenty, but. once in two or three years ; befide, if the fame fubflances were prefent every year, it might require the concurrence of fevera! circiihiftances, fuch a3 a cer- tain degree of heat and moifhirc, to render the contagion active—(e.g.) intermhtents are not every year prev- alent alike, though the fource whence they fpring remains to all appearance the fame. for the MASSACHU F E M ALE S TO defcant on the degeneracy of the age, to difplay the reigning foibles of particular claffes, to mourn or frown at their predominance, is a talk which belongs to the rigid mo- ralifr, or preaching philofopher. To rave indifcriminately at the in- nocent indulgencies of individuals, to hurl at random, the envenomed (hafts cf malicious invective at the incautious brow of youthful levity, to rail inceffantly even at the pleafing (allies of female vivacity, calls for the crabbed temper of the marling cynick. His unenvied province let it be ; while the more brilliant theme of fe- male merit, fhall employ the milder pen of their friendly Bramin. But it while purfuing the pleafing office of a friend, he fhould perchance encroach on (lie lefs pleafing department of the monitor, let it be remembered, that their duties are fo intimately blended, that even the moft cautious attention, will fometimesconfound them. Shall he not then, be pardoned, if while he admires that inherent graccfulnefc of perfon, that delicate feufibility of heart, SETTS MAGAZINE. E V E R I T Y. that animated gaiety of temper, with which nature originally etnbcllifhed her faireft work cf creation, he fnouid pre fume mefl fincerely to condemn, that fupercilious deportment, that ill natured feverity, thofe malicious and indelicate farcafms, which fo awkard- Iv diflinguifli tlie manners and con- vcrfation of our modern beiles ? It is perverting the fyftem of female fubor- dination ; it is proftituting ihe very temper and constitution of tiic fex. Such was the original texture of the fe- male mind, fuch was its primary deli- cate tonf! ruction, that it gave birth on- ly to the moft refined fentiments. 'I he miftrefs of creation, when fhe moulded the fair mother of her fairer family, fearched for her richeft materials, a; - plied her riioft exqtiifite workmanfhip, and produced a being inimitably per- fect. Her heart was ftrung to the foft tones of love and companion ; her nerves were compofed of the moft delicate fibres, that they n to 'he tender impulfe or affection, and beat in unifen with the plaintive vok* of woe. The fair features cf her face