_Of Fevers in General_
Hippocrates, the father of physic, was wont to say, “A fever is so
universal, that no patient dies without it.” This is so true, that there
is hardly an exception to it, even in the most momentary apoplexy
itself.
To conceive this properly, we must observe, that every diminutive part
in the animal fabric, like in a commonwealth, is endued with a sense of
self-preservation; and the whole fabric is in so strict a conjunction
with all its various particles, both solids and fluids, that nothing
which may cause the least disturbance can pass unnoticed; but, let the
injury be where it will, every individual particle, as a member of the
whole animal state, feels the shock, and is immediately concerned for
its own preservation.
This then is the cause of a fever in the general sense; and thence we
shall be led to understand what this disturbance in its nature actually
is; namely, an unnatural action of the solids upon the fluids.
Now as the fluids are the most yielding parts, that must submit to the
pressing motion of the solids, we may without much difficulty, see one
principle reason of its being set into a disturbed commotion, when the
irritability of the nervous fibrillæ are acted upon.
Again, when we consider that the blood is liable to become acrimonious,
and thence by its stimulus apt to act upon the coats of its containing
vessels, we see demonstratively plain, how the solids are subject to be
excited to act upon the very blood that stimulates them.
Moreover, as motion must naturally produce heat, and heat motion, and
motion expansion, and expansion rarefaction, we at once bring to view
the principal laws of mechanism, that governs the human automaton in the
various degrees of health as well as disease. However, let me not forget
to whom I write, but haste to the point I am at.
A fever may proceed from many different causes, and may affect many
different constitutions, and also produce many different effects; it is
therefore just that a proper distinction should be made.
Indeed, it is a subject that cannot be too minutely handled; because it
is scarce possible that there is a disease void of a fever in some
degree or other.—But preciseness and utility is the object I have in
view.
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