Volume 1

The general practice of physic: extracted chiefly from the writings of the most celebrated practical physicians ... To which is prefixed an introduction, containing inquiries relative to the patient ... / By R. Brookes.

  • Brooks, Richard, active 1740-1743.
Date:
1771
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general practice of physic: extracted chiefly from the writings of the most celebrated practical physicians ... To which is prefixed an introduction, containing inquiries relative to the patient ... / By R. Brookes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    58/456 (page 42)
    Though among, the Herd of hypothetical Authors, fome un¬ doubtedly come pretty near the Truth. Hoffman defines a Fever to be, A fpafmodic Affection of the whole nervous and vafcu- lar Syftem, annoying all the Functions of the Bodyy arifmg from any Caufe which has Power to irritate the nervous Parts to a more in- tenje Contraption 3 and when it operates, it drives the vital Fluids from the outward Parts to the Heart and great Veffels3 and after¬ wards , when the Syfole of the Heart and Arteries are increafedy they are driven hack with Rapidity and Pleat y through the conf rifled Veffelsy to the outward Parts again9 till the Spafms being relaxed, the Secretions are performed, and the Fever vanijhes. The formal ox fundamental Caufe of a Fever, confifts in the fpafmodic Affeflion of the whole nervous and fibrous Genus. This plainly appears from the ufual Paffions and Phaenomena of a Fever, viz. a Pain in the Back, more particularly about the Loins 3 a Coldnefs, efpecially of the extreme Parts 3 a Shi¬ vering, Shaking, Trembling, a livid Colour of the Nails 3 a Subfidence of the Veffels of the Hands and Feet 3 a fiirunk, dry Skin 5 a Yawning, a Stretching 3 a pale, livid Counte¬ nance 5 a trembling and palpitating Motion of the Heart, and Anxiety of the Pracordia 3 difficult Breathing 5 Inquie¬ tude, Reftleffnefs 3 a Senfation of an Ebullition of the Blood about the Heart 3 a contracted, weak, fmall Pulfe 3 a Naufea, and an Inclination to vomit 3 a Suppreffion of Perfpiration 3 Coftivenefs, with thin, watry Urine. Hence it naturally follows, that whatever has a Power to irritate and follicit the nervous and vafcular Syftem to Spafms, is molt likely to generate a Fever. To this Clafs belong vio¬ lent Paffions of the Mind, efpecially Terror and Anger 3 a poi- fonous, fubtle, cauftic Matter, either bred within the Body, or received by InfeCtion 3 a Stoppage of Perfpiration 3 a Sup¬ preffion of critical Sweats 3 Eruptions driven back 3 an A- bundance of purulent ulcerous Matter adhering to various Parts 3 Aliments over and above acrid and finarp 3 corrupt and bilious Crudities lodged in the Primes Vice 3 exceffive Watching 3 a violent Pain and Tenfion of the nervous Parts 3 Inflammations, Tumours and Abfcdfes 3 hurting the nervous Parts by {harp Inftruments, acrid and corrolive Drugs 3 Cold Baths, and, on the contrary, thole that are too hot or aftringent. According to the different Nature of thefe Caufes, and the various Manner of affeCting the Nerves, arife Fevers of divers Kinds 3 fome are benign, others malignant 3 fome are intermit¬ ting, others continual 3 fome are fimple, others compound ; others regular or anomalous 3 eruptive, fpotted, putrid, heCIic, or flow. Some admit of an eafy Cure, others a difficult 3 fome