h either gradually heals, or spreads, and is the cause of hectic
fever; or they secrete contagious matter, which has the property of
exciting the same kind of inflammation, and of producing the same kind of
contagious matter, when inserted by inoculation into the skin of other
persons. These contagious matters form ulcers, which either heal
spontaneously, or by art; or continue to spread, and destroy the patient,
by other kinds of hectic fever.

In this genus there is an increase of the sensorial power of irritation as
well as of sensation; whence great arterial energy is produced, and the
pulse becomes strong and full, as well as quick; and the coats of the
arteries feel hard under the finger, being themselves thickened and
distended by inflammation. The blood drawn, especially at the second
bleeding, is covered with a tough size; which is probably the mucus from
the inflamed internal surface of the arteries, increased in quantity, and
more coagulable than in its natural state; the thinner part being more
perfectly absorbed by the increased action of the inflamed absorbents. See
Sect. XXXIII. 2. 2. This is rendered more probable, because the hard feel
of the pulse, and the abundance of coagulable lymph commence, exist, and
cease together.

Great heat is produced from the new chemical combinations arising in the
secretion of new fibres, and great pain from the distention of old ones, or
from their increased action. The increased quantity of sensation from a
topical inflammation or phlegmon is the immediate cause of the febris
sensitiva irritata, or inflammatory fever; as when it arises from the pain
of pleurisy, or paronychia; but generally an irritative fever precedes this
topical inflammation, which occurs during the hot fit of it; and then the
irritative fever is changed into a sensitive irritated fever, by the
additional cause of the sensorial power of sensation besides that of
irritation.

SPECIES.

1. _Febris sensitiva irritata._ Sensitive irritated fever, or inflammatory
fever. Phlegmasia. A strong full pulse, with inflammation of the coats of
the arteries, constitutes this disease. It originates from some topical
inflammation, which, if the fever is not subdued, terminates in
suppuration; and differs from irritative fever in respect to the painful
sensation which accompanies it. For as pleasurable sensation is the cause
of the growth of the new vessels, and distention of the old ones, in the
natural enlargem