[14]. Febris venerea. From the absorption of the matter from venereal ulcers and suppurating bones. See Syphilis, [II. 1. 5. 2].
M. M. Any mercurial calx. Sarsaparilla? Mezereon?
[15]. Febris a sanie putrida. Fever from putrid sanies. When parts of the body are destroyed by external violence, as a bruise, or by mortification, a putrefaction soon succeeds; as they are kept in that degree of warmth and moisture by their adhesion to the living parts of the body, which most forwards that process. Thus the sloughs of mortified parts of the tonsils give fetor to the breath in some fevers; the matter from putrefying teeth, or other suppurating bones, is particularly offensive; and even the scurf, which adheres to the tongue, frequently acquires a bitter taste from its incipient putridity. This material differs from those before mentioned, as its deleterious property depends on a chemical rather than an animal process.
[16]. Febris puerpera. Puerperal fever. It appears from some late dissections, which have been published, of those women who have died of the puerperal fever, that matter has been formed in the omentum, and found in the cavity of the abdomen, with some blood or sanies. These parts are supposed to have been injured by the exertions accompanying labour; and as matter in this viscus may have been produced without much pain, this disease is not attended with arterial strength and hard full pulse like the inflammation of the uterus; and as the fever is of the inirritative or typhus kind, there is reason to believe, that the previous exhaustion of the patient during labour may contribute to its production; as well as the absorption of a material not purulent but putrid; which is formed by the delay of extravasated or dead matter produced by the bruises of the omentum, or other viscera, in the efforts of parturition, rather than by purulent matter, the consequence of suppuration. The pulse is generally about 120 when in bed and in the morning; and is increased to 134, or more, when the patient sits up, or in the evening paroxysm. The pulse of all very weak patients increases in frequency when they sit up; because the expenditure of sensorial power necessary to preserve an erect posture deducts so much from their general strength; and hence the pulse becomes weaker, and in consequence quicker. See Sect. XII. 1. 4.
In this fever time must be allowed for the absorption of the matter. Very large and repeated quantities of the bark, by preventing sufficient food from being taken, as bread, and wine, and water, I have thought has much injured the patient; for the bark is not here given as in intermittent fevers to prevent the paroxysm, but simply to strengthen the patient by increasing the power of digestion. About two ounces of decoction of bark, with four drops of laudanum, and a dram of sweet spirit of vitriol, once in six hours, and a glass of wine between those times, with panada, or other food, I have thought of most advantage, with a small blister occasionally.
Where not only the stomach but also the bowels are much distended with air, so as to sound on striking them with the fingers, the case is always dangerous, generally hopeless; which is more so in proportion to the quickness of the pulse. Where the bowels are distended two drops of oil of cinnamon should be given in the panada three or four times a day.
[17]. Febris a sphacelo. Fever from mortification. This fever from absorption of putrid matter is of the inirritative or typhus kind. See the preceding article.
M. M. Opium and the bark are frequently given in too great quantity, so as to induce consequent debility, and to oppress the power of digestion.