Handbook of the science and practice of medicine / by William Aitken.

  • William Aitken
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Handbook of the science and practice of medicine / by William Aitken. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    97/880
    HECTIC TYPE OF FEVER. indicated by a sudden cessation of all pain, at wliicli the patient often appears veiy happy and even joyous, while to the experienced physi- cian its sudden cessation is assuredly an evil omen (Watson). The most important vital functions are deeply impaired by a prolonged existence of this type of fever. It tends to death by a complete sinking of the circulation, diminution and loss of animal heat; or, deepening stupor, Avith oppressed respiration supervenes, or the patient dies by a combination of both conditions, asthenia and coma. For an accoimt of the pathology of this type of fever, the reader is referred to Part II. of this handbook under Typhous Fever. Hectic Fever.—If suppuration continues beyond the po>yers of the constitution to supply the process with material to form inflam- matory lymph and pus—if the inflammation continues and becomes chronic as to time, inflammatory lymph continuing to be exuded, and pus continuing to form in profuse quantity, especially if an internal organ is its site—another type of febrile symptoms are apt to supei-vene, constituting hectic fever. It is not to be supposed, how- ever, as was once believed and taught, that hectic fever is due in every case in which it occurs, to the continued formation of pus. There are foi-ms of hectic fmei- which may be termed idiopatliic, unconnected ■with suppuration anywhere, but associated with some analogous wasting of the bodily substance ; for example, a prolonged secretion of milk in mothers who suckle their infants beyond the natural period. In all cases where a drain upon the system is established beyond its means, such a complex morbid condition of the body as hectic fever may be thus induced, and the mischief may not be revealed by any other symptoms. This type is particularly dis- tinguished from the inflammatory and typhoid forms of fever by its remarkable intermissions, which are usually periodical; a period of remission and a period of exacerbation usually occurring once and sometimes twice in the twenty-fovir hotirs. It is also characterized by an excessive waste of the tissues of the body; and the sweating which attends the paroxysms causes great exhaustion. The assimilative and nervousfunctions are compamtively tmimpaired, so that it is a febrile state genei-ally of very long continuance. The inind remains perfectly clear, often vigorous and active, even Avhen the body is debilitated; and if the intei-vals between the paroxysms are tolerably free from febrile excitement, the hectic ty]ie of fever may be protracted much beyond Avhat at first sight might appear credible; and thus it is sometimes within our power to alleviate greatly this condition. If, however, the fever does not abate during the remissions of the excessive paroxysm, when sweating continues profuse, when suppuration or other wasting discharge is excessive, the fatal termination approaches rapidly. The leading symptoms of this fonn of fever have been watched