Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. IV. Of the differences of Fevers in general.

THe differences of Fevers are taken from their essence, * 1.1 or from their accidents. Hippocrat 6. Epid. comment. text. 29. propounds the differences taken from the heat it self of the Fever, that some Fevers are biring, namely, such as strike the hand of them that touch them, and by reason of that sharp vapour, which is stirr'd up by putted matter, it doth as it were prick the hand; but a mild one is such as hath troublesome heat, but not so violent. Moreover the heat o•• some Fevers at the first touch is not sharp, and nipping, but if the hand be continued longer, afterwards it betrayes itself. On the contrary others are quick at first to the touch, but if the hand continue longer, it is overcome by the hand, and a little abated.

But those are the most proper differences which are taken from inherence in the Subject, and the cause of inhering, which Fevers are divided into Ephemeraes, putred and hectick, the truest foundation of which division is, that one Fever is in habitude, the other in habit, for although the fevourish heat in every Fever possess the similar parts of the body; yet some are so inherent in the body, that they require no cause to che∣rish them, and although they are not fed by the kindling of hu∣mours and Spirits, nevertheless they will continue, which sort are called Hecticks. Another hot distemper is so inherent in the similar parts of the body, that unless it be cherished by the kindling of humours and Spirits it can no more subsist, which Fever is called a Fever in habitude, which in respect of the cause is twofold, an Ephemera, to which also a Synocha without putrefaction is referred; and a putrid.

There is another thing worth the noting, that one Fever is Primary, another Symptomatical, Primary is that which fol∣lows no former disease, but depends on its proper cause: Se∣condary

or Symptomatical is that which ariseth from the in∣flamation of any member. See Galen. 4. Aphor. 7.

But of Symptomatical this is to be noted, that those which by the ancients were accounted Symptomatical, were indeed primary many of them, and inflamations of the parts, of the Membrane that covers the ribbs, of the lungs or chopps, ra∣ther happened to those parts, then the Fever to take it's rise from them: * 1.2 Which Fevers may be called Comitatae, or such as accompany the Fever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Differen∣ces.
• * 1.2

  Feavers accompa∣nied.