At the same time the respiration is affected in a corresponding degree:
it is shorter and quicker than natural; the chest does not expand so
freely, and compensation seems to be sought in an additional number of
respirations. Oftentimes neither the pulse nor the respiration appears
to be much altered, if the patient remain perfectly still; but if he
rise and walk across the room, the pulse instantly becomes rapid, and
the respiration is quickened almost to panting.
The transition from the affection of the nervous and sensorial to that
of the circulating and the respiratory systems is thus clear and
striking. Physiology teaches us how closely these systems are connected,
and how mutually they are dependent one upon the other, the closest
observers and the ablest experimentalists candidly confessing that they
are scarcely able to determine which is the least dependent, or the
action of which is the least necessary to the others performance of its
functions. The nervous system being first deranged, it is thus consonant
to what we know of the healthy function of the animal economy, that the
circulating and the respiratory systems should be the next to suffer.
How long the nervous system may continue thus deranged, before any other
organs are involved, excepting the circulating and the respiratory, to
the extent just stated, is uncertain. There can be no doubt that in this
mild form of fever, the range of the duration of this isolated state of
disorder, if we may so express it, is from a few hours to several days.
The rapidity or the slowness with which other systems of organs become
involved seems to depend very much upon the acuteness of the attack. In
general, the more acute the fever, the more rapidly the individual
phenomena succeed each other, and the entire series becomes complete.
But this is not, and it is important to bear in mind that it is not
invariably the case: for experience teaches us that the severity and
danger of the disease are not diminished by the slowness of its
approach; and that cases occur, which are slow in forming, and which do
not for awhile excite alarm, that ultimately become truly formidable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account