INTERMITTENT FEVERS, &c.

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There is not a greater solecism in language, nor a greater ab-surdity in real practice, than to pretend that any one medicine isof certain efficacy in fevers. The most skilful physicians that everexisted have always found it necessary to watch attentively theprogress of a fever ; and to adapt both the regimen and medicinesto the different changes and symptoms as they occurred.

CHAP. III.

INTERMITTENT FEVERS, OR AGUES.

The generic character of an intermittent fever consists of peri-ods or paroxysms, between each of which there is a perfect inter-val when no fever is present. They admit of several distinctions,as true, spurious, perfect, and imperfect.

The true and perfect intermittents ic 1 iic\ occur are ;

1. The quotidian or daily — having an intermission of 24 hours.

2. Tertian, or third-day, 48 hours.

3. Quartan, or fourth-day, 72 hours.

When the return of an intermittent exceeds the latest of thesetimes, it is called erratic or wandering. The other distinctionsare of no practical utility, the means of cure being the same.

The paroxysm of an intermittent consists of three successive6tages, viz. a hot, a cold, and a sweating stage.

Intermitting fevers afford the best opportunity both of observingthe nature of a fever, and also the effects of medicine. No personcan be at a loss to distinguish an intermitting fever from anyother, and the proper medicine for it is now almost universallyknown.

The several kinds of intermittent fevers take their names fromthe period in which the fit returns, as quotidian, tertian, quartan,&>c.

■It appears to be generally acknowledged, that marsh miasmataor the effluvia arising from stagnant water, or marshy ground,when acted upon by heat, are the most frequent exciting cause ofthis fever.

Exciting causes. — This is evident from their abounding inrainy seasons, and being most frequent in countries 'where the soilis marshy, as in Holland, the fens of Cambridgeshire, the hundredsof Essex, «fee, although we are not yet sufficiently acquainted withall the circumstances which are requisite to render marsh mias-mata productive of intermittents. In acknowledging, however,the influence of marsh effluvia to produce intermittents, they mustnot, at the same time, be considered as their universal cause, sinceit i* found that persons residing constantly in the most healthy