The preceding history of the symptoms of fever can be of no real use
unless it be possible to connect it with the events of which those
symptoms are the signs. The events consist of certain morbid changes
which take place in the series of organs already enumerated. We arrive
at the knowledge of these events first by noting the symptoms which
occur during life, and their order of succession: and, secondly, by
examining the condition of the organs after death in the fatal cases: a
comparison of the symptoms, as previously observed, with the state of
the organs as subsequently ascertained, teaches us what the symptoms
indicate. By carefully observing the symptoms in a large number of
cases, we at length become acquainted with all the important symptoms
that arise: by carefully examining the organs after death in a large
number of cases, we gradually learn all the important changes in
structure which they undergo: and by comparing, in all cases, the morbid
symptoms with the altered states, we acquire in the end the power of
ascertaining, with a high degree of probability, the presence of an
event which we cannot see, by the presence of its sign which we can see.
In proportion as our knowledge becomes perfect, we are thus enabled,
during life, and at the bed-side of the patient, to see what is going on
within his brain, within his lungs, and within his intestines, with as
much distinctness and certainty as we could were the cases in which
these organs are enclosed, and the organs themselves transparent. The
highly interesting and important fact demonstrated by the examination,
in the manner of which we have just spoken, of large numbers of fever
patients is, that the changes which take place in the organs are
uniform; that the symptoms by which these changes are denoted are
likewise uniform, and therefore, that it is possible to arrive at a
perfect knowledge of the phenomena of fever.
The present state of our knowledge, it must be confessed, is far from
being perfect. To a certain extent, however, it is even already
sufficiently perfect to afford the physician an invaluable guide in the
conduct of his practice; and the steps that are wanting to complete the
knowledge we possess (as far as human knowledge can be complete) future
labour and perseverance will assuredly supply.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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