Reflections on fever : and particularly on the inflammatory character of fever / by Lyman Spalding, M.D.

  • Spalding, Lyman, 1775-1821.
Date:
1817 [i.e. 1818]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reflections on fever : and particularly on the inflammatory character of fever / by Lyman Spalding, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    down for some time. The bleeding from a large orifice while the person stands erect, &c. Then the want of the accustomed stimulus of distention of the brain, by- blood, will produce vertigo. We have traced this symptom to its seat, the brain ; its proximate cause, a diminished circulation in the sub- stance of the brain itself, 2. Succeeded by rigors. Rigour, [rigor, Latin,] a convulsive shuddering, with sense of cold, says Johnson. This symptom is resolvable into two parts. 1. The sense of cold. 2. The convulsive shuddering. Cold is a sensation which arises in the brain, in con- sequence of a certain impression being made on the sentient extremities of the nerves. The sensation pro- duced in the brain does not always correspond with the real temperature of the part; because the influence of the nerves is liable to be changed ; and that function of the brain, which is to receive impressions from the nerves, is also liable to be changed ; therefore, the sensation produced may be less than the impression. The sensation of cold is plainly referrible, by the patient himself, to the deep-seated parts beneath the integuments of the body. Chilled through, is a common expression. We have already shown that lassitude, a previous symptom, consists in the great diminution of the life of the fibrous structure of the muscles ; which diminution affects or vitiates the sentient extremities of the nerves that are spent upon the muscles, thereby producing the sensation of cold. From the very definition of the term rigor, a convul- sive shuddering with sense of cold we should say that this symptom must be seated in the muscles, as they are the only structure which is capable of convulsive ac- tion. From all that precedes, it appears perfectly plain, that the seat of rigors is the muscular structure ; and it is equally evident, that the very great diminution of the lift of the muscular structure is its proximate cause.