It has been asserted by authors, that no certain febrile presages can be formed before the periodical crisis; but this is antiquated and erroneous. In tropical climates, the critical days are much more certain and evident than in northern regions: and as transmitted from the prognostical Alcoran of Hippocrates, are the 3d or 4th, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 20; which amounts to rather more than one half critical, and the remainder non-critical. On such critical days the event is generally most decisive, whether salutary or fatal; in the non-critical it is a temporary respite. Besides, in tropical climates, the moon is observed to have considerable influence on febrile paroxisms, and crisis. As to the effect of febrile crisis on the human excretories, we have been sufficiently explicit. The favourable termination of fevers is chiefly discovered by cessation of delirium, abatement of the frequency of the pulse; mild sweats equally diffused; the urine depositing a sediment freely and copiously; coolness of the skin; return of natural sleep and appetite; and food recruiting the lost strength. The storm is then subsided, and the ship arrived at anchor.
The phlogistick group of febrile diseases are now to be reviewed. The majority of these in their immediate causes and mode of cure, intimately anastomose; and the principal differences in the symptoms are to be ascribed to the different organs and parts enraged by inflammation. These are not like the generality of the preceding fevers, in which most of the corporeal functions participate: here, in many cases, one single portion of the human organization is originally transfixed with pain and commotion; and doomed to bear the brunt of the hydraulick torrent and inundation. After mature consideration, we imagined it would occasion less confusion and burthen to the memory, to detach a few diseases from the phlogistick legion. Inflammation of the ears, eyes, intestines, kidneys, and bladder, are incorporated amongst the other diseases by which those various organs are liable to be invested. I am aware that this does not quadrate with the stiff etiquette of nosological parade: but, without digressing into a critical disquisition on this subject, I shall content myself with simply acknowledging that I am no convert to any of those modern pedagogues in morbid arrangement and nomenclature. With similar and intentional omission, I avoid the technical subtilities of parenchymatous and membranaceous inflammation.