As thoracic affection may exist in any degree of intensity, so it may indicate itself at any period of the disease: but while sufficiently intense to destroy the structure of the organs in which it has its seat, yet it sometimes gives no indication of its presence, or none until the approach of death. In these cases, the cerebral affection is still more intense than the thoracic, and the manifestation of the symptoms proper to the lung is prevented by the predominance of disease in the brain. Of this, the following case affords a striking example. CASE VIII. JOHN POTTER, æt 21. Admitted on the 15th day of fever. Before admission was affected with the usual febrile symptoms, accompanied with severe pain of the head and giddiness. On admission, the pain of the head was nearly gone; there remained considerable vertigo, with some pain in the loins and joints; the mind was exceedingly indistinct, and there was little or no sleep; pulse 80, soft; no indication of pectoral affection. 18th. Symptoms the same; in addition, the abdomen was now tender on full pressure and retracted. 24th. No change observable until this day; no indication of thoracic affection had hitherto been apparent from the commencement of the disease; but, on the morning of the 24th day of fever, dyspnœa suddenly came on, which was attended with a great degree of restlessness; there was also some soreness of throat, but only a slight degree of redness and tumefaction were visible on inspection: with these symptoms he sunk rapidly, and expired in the afternoon.[24] III. SYNOCHUS GRAVIOR WITH ABDOMINAL AFFECTION. One of the organs always involved in disease, in a greater or less degree, in fever, is the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. In synochus mitior the affection of this organ appears to be slight, and to pass away without producing any change in its structure. But that it is really diseased even in the mildest case, we have sufficient evidence in the invariable derangement which takes place in the functions of the organ throughout its whole course, from the mouth to the anus; and in the constant vitiation of its secretions and excretions. In the severer forms of fever, on the other hand, in the great majority of cases, the affection of the abdomen becomes prominent, and whenever it does so it aggravates all the other febrile symptoms, and adds greatly to the danger of the disease. Abdominal affection exists under two forms in fever, each of which is attended with distinct and peculiar symptoms. It may be severe from the commencement, and give early and obvious indications of its existence; or it may come on at some subsequent stage of the disease, and then, although the affection be equally severe, the symptoms which denote it are materially different.