As headach is not the same complaint as fever, so neither are insomnolency, loss of appetite, heaviness of the whole body, and a sense of lassitude; and yet each of these symptoms, although different from fever, announces its approach. A fever setting in, and more especially in an acute manner, cannot escape our notice, nor even that of a person unacquainted with these matters. Or, if we should suppose that it might escape us, I should wonder if the patient himself could be ignorant of it for more than an hour. Wherefore I call that time the commencement of the disorder, when those who are beginning clearly to be affected with the fever betake themselves to bed. * * * * * COMMENTARY. The whole of this Section is taken from Galen (de Diebus criticis), where the question is fully discussed. Aëtius, like our author, defines the commencement of a fever to be the time when the strength of the patient being overcome by the complaint, he is obliged to take to bed. On this point the Arabians venture to differ from the Greeks. Thus, Rhases and Avicenna reckon the commencement from the time when the patient first feels a departure from health. The disagreement among the authorities upon this point is to be regretted, as it tends to obscure the doctrine of the critical days. SECT. IV.—HOW TO KNOW WHETHER THE DISEASE WILL PROVE FATAL OR NOT. These are fatal symptoms: A deathlike countenance, sharp nose, hollow eyes, and the other symptoms described by Hippocrates, when they do not proceed from watchfulness, or evacuation, or want of food; also, intolerance of the light, shedding tears from no external cause, there being no particular affection of the eyes; or the one eye appearing less than the other; or the white of the eyes becoming red, or livid, or black, or having a muddiness in them; and the white of the eyes appearing during sleep, the eyelids not being closed, unless this symptom proceed from a great evacuation, or from habit. Likewise grinding the teeth, a state of delirium, picking at flocks of wool, or bits of chaff, are not favorable. Attention should also be paid to the patient’s mode of lying. To lie on one’s back, as it were, in a relaxed state, and to sink downwards in bed, are indications of extreme debility. It is still worse to have a cold respiration at the mouth and nostrils; and a pulse obscure, dense, and intermitting, and profuse sweatings with syncope are most mortal symptoms. If all the symptoms we have mentioned, or even more appear, or if they be fewer in number but strong, and if they be without any of the favorable ones, death is inevitable. The breathing free, pulse natural, soundness of intellect, being well disposed to take whatever is offered, the appearance of countenance and mode of reclining like those of persons in health,—all these symptoms are favorable and prognosticate recovery; and, in general, whatever symptom is contrary to the natural