Volume 1

Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle].

  • Pringle, John, Sir, 1707-1782.
Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    immediately fink the pulfe and bring on a * delirium. » When the fymptoms come on quick and violent, the fever is not eafily diftinguifhed in the beginning from one proceeding from inflammation, or other caufes. The greatefi: certainty of the diagnoftic is then founded on the knowledge of the circumftances 5 whe¬ ther, to wit, the patient has been expofed to the ufual caufes of fevers, or to foul air and infe&ion; again, whether he is relieved by bleeding or not: becaufe, in inflammatory fe¬ vers, bleeding conftantly moderates all the fymptoms, but in this it rarely gives eafe ; nay often it exafperates all the complaints. The fymptoms already mentioned are all in a higher degree; and to thefe are added, great laffitude, naitfea> and pains in the back, pain and confufion in the head, attended with a great deje&ion of fpirits. At this time the pulfe is never funk, but generally beats quick and full, tho’ rarely to that degree obferved in fevers of much lefs confequence. The firft bleeding, if moderate, affedts the pulfe little; but if die evacuation is large, and efpecially if repeated to anfwer a falfe indica¬ tion of inflammation, the pulfe increafing in frequency will be apt to fink in force, often irre-