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. VIII. To what kind of Fevers Pestilent and Malignant ones pertain.

MOreover since there are three kinds of Fevers, * 1.1 Epheme∣ral, Putred, and Hectick, and again of putred Fevers, there are some differences: 'tis now enquired to what kind of Fevers malignant and pestilent do belong, or whether ma∣lignancy and pestilency belong to all Fevers, or to some certain kind only.

But we have already determined that there are no Ephemeraes nor Hecticks pestilent and malignant, because that in all pesti∣lent and malignant Fevers, there are manifest tokens of corru∣ption or putrefaction of humours, although that malignant and pestilent humour have likewise a manifest antipathy with the spi∣rits, and may stir up a dangerous Fever.

But all putred pestilential Fevers are continued, since the force of the venomous putrifaction is such, as that it can easily diffuse it self into all the veins and arteries, and may easily corrupt the humours.

But malignant Fevers in particular so called, may also be in∣termittent, as experience sheweth: Neither is it impossible, that even in the first passages of the body, the putrifying humours may acquire some malignity; and seeing that in such Fevers the force of the venome is not so great, nothing hinders but that Nature may appoint certain excretions at appointed periods.

Continued pestilent and malignant Fevers, are particularly addicted to no sort of them, but according as putrefaction hap∣pens into this or that sickly preparation, so this or that conti∣nued Fever is stirred up, somtimes a Synocha, somtimes a perio∣dick; whence various symptomes likewise do arise, according to the sickly provision.

Moreover concerning the differences of malignant and pesti∣lential Fevers, * 1.2 since that in every such Fever there are found two things, the putrifaction it self, from whence the Fever ariseth, and malignity; in respect of these also, do the Fevers differ. For somtimes equally from putrefaction and malignity, danger is at hand; which Fevers, if the putrifaction and malignity be great, are exceeding dangerous; but if neither the malignancy nor putrefaction be much, the Fevers are not dangerous. Som∣times there is more putrifaction, but the malignancy is not much; and then the Fever comes neerer to the nature of other putred Fevers: but somtimes the putrifaction is not much, but the malignant quality vehement, and such Fevers seem to be milde but they are most fraudulent and dangerous.

Concerning the nature of Pestilency and Malignity, al∣though it be occult, yet from its effects we may apprehend a cer∣tain variety, whilst somtimes spots, somtimes Measles, somtimes wheals come forth; somtimes too great sweats, somtimes Catarrhs, Pleurisies and other evils, according to the antipathy which the venome hath with this or that particular part.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To what kind of Fe∣vers pesti∣lent and malignant ones be∣long.
• * 1.2

  The diffe∣rences of pestilent and mali∣gnant Fe∣vers.