CONTINUED FEVERS.

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which usually determines them to be of a certain duration ; conse-quently, these terminations, when salutary, happen at certain peri-ods of the disease, rather than others, unless disturbed in theirprogress by improper treatment, or the occurrence of accidentalcauses. These periods, from the time of Hippocrates to the pres-ent day, have been pretty generally admitted, under the name ofcritical days. The days in which it is supposed the terminationof continued fevers principally happens, are the third, fifth, seventh,ninth, eleventh, fourteenth, seventeenth, and twentieth.

A simple continued fever terminates always by a regular crisis ;and it is observable, with respect to diseases, the definite periodswhich take place in regular intermittents, as well those general astopical, in the course of true inflammation, which at the fourth, orfurthest at the seventh day, is resolved, or after this period changesinto abscess, scirrhus, or gangrene. In exanthematous eruptions,which, if they are favourable and regular, show themselves on acertain and definite day ; for example, the small-pox about thefourth : in measles about the third and fourth.

Symptoms. — An attack of simple continued fever is generallycharacterized by the patient's being seized with a considerable de-gree of languor or sense of debility, with sluggishness, an aversionto motion, frequent yawning and stretching ; the face and extrem-ities at the same time becoming pale, the skin over the whole bodybecoming constricted ; a subsequent sensation of cold in the back,passing thence over the whole frame ; and these continuing to in-crease, tremors in the limbs, and cold shiverings succeed. Withthese symptoms, there is loss of appetite, want of taste in the mouth,slight pains in the back, head, loins, and a small and frequentrespiration. The sense of cold and its effects, after a little timebecome less violent, alternated with flushes ; and, at length, goingoff altogether, they are succeeded by great heat, diffused generallyover the whole body •, the face appears flushed, the skin looks dry,as also the tongue ; universal restlessness prevails, with violentpain of the head, oppression at the chest, sickness at the stomach,with inclination to vomit. There is likewise great thirst and cos-tiveness ; and the pulse is full and frequent, producing, perhaps,90, 100, or 120 pulsations in a minute. When these symptomsrun high, and there is considerable determination of blood to thehead, delirium will ensue. There is, generally, in this fever, as inothers of the continued kind, an increase of symptoms towards theevening,

Unfavourable symptoms. — If the disease is likely to prove fatal,either in consequence of its long continuance, or the severity ofthe symptoms, there will be observed a starting of the tendons(subsnitus tendinis,) the patient picking the bed-clothes ; involun-tary discharges by urine and stool ; coldness of the extremities,and hiccups: but where no such appearances occur, the fever willrun its course, and ultimately cease.

Favourable symptoms. — The pulse becoming soft, moderate,and approaching its natural state : the tongue losing its furred ap-

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