Part 11 (2/2)
ANIMAL HEAT.
To think of fever, we think of animal heat. By habit we want to know how great the heat is. We measure by a yard stick till we find we have 100, 102, 104, to 106, at this point we stop as we find too many yards of red calico to suit the size of the purse of life. Which we think cannot consume more than 106 yards of heat. We begin to ask for the substances that are more powerful than fire. We try all known fire compounds and fail. The fire department had done faithful work, and all it could bring to bear on the fire. It had put on hose and steam, knocked s.h.i.+ngles off and windows out, but not until the fire had ruined the house with all its inside and outside usefulness and beauties. Another and another house gets on fire and burns just as the first did. All are content to see the ruins and say it is the will of the Lord; never thinking for a moment that it was with the aid of the heart that the brain burned up the body.
Of what use is a knowledge of anatomy to man if he overlooks cause and effect in the results obtained by the machinery that anatomy should teach? He finds each part connected to all others with the wisdom that has given a set of plans and specifications that are without a flaw or omission. The body generates its own heat and modulates to suit climate and season. It can generate through its electro-motor system far beyond the kindly normal, to the highest known fever heat, and is capable of modulations far above or below normal. A knowledge of Osteopathy will prepare you to bring the system under the rulings of the physical laws of life. Fever is electric heat only.
SEMEIOLOGY.
(Med.) The science of the signs or symptoms of disease.
SYMPTOMATOLOGY.
The doctrine of symptoms; that part of the science of medicine which treats of the symptoms of disease. Semeiology.
These definitions are from Webster's International Dictionary, considered by all English speaking people as a standard authority. Both words are chosen names to represent that system of guess work, which is now and has been used as a method of ascertaining what disease is or might be. It is supposed to be the best method known to date to cla.s.sify or name diseases, after which guessing begins in earnest. What kinds of poisons, how much and how often to use them, and guess how much good or how much harm is being done to the sick person.
To ill.u.s.trate more forcibly, to the mind of the reader that such system though honored by age is only worthy the name of guess work, as shown by the following standard authority on fevers:
POTTER'S DEFINITION OF FEVER.
”Fever is a condition in which there are present the phenomena of rise of temperature, quickened circulation, marked tissue change, and disordered secretions.
”The primary cause of the fever phenomena is still a mooted (discussed and debated) question, and is either a disorder of the sympathetic nervous system giving rise to disturbances of the vaso-motor filaments, or a derangement of the nerve centers located adjacent to the corpus striatum, which have been found, by experiment, to govern the processes of heat production, distribution, and dissipation.
”Rise of temperature is the pre-eminent feature of all fevers, and can only be positively determined by the use of the clinical thermometer.
The term feverishness is used when the temperature ranges from 99 to 100 fahr.; slight fever if 100 or 101; moderate, 102 or 103; high if 104 or 105 and intense if it exceed the latter. The term hyperpyrexia is used when the temperature shows a tendency to remain at 106 fahr. and above.
”Quickened circulation is the rule in fevers, the frequency usually maintaining a fair ratio with the increase of the temperature. A rise of one degree fahr. is usually attended with an increase of eight to ten beats of the pulse per minute.
”The following table gives a fair comparison between temperature and pulse:--
TABLE OF DEGREES.
A temperature of 98 corresponds to a pulse of 60 ” 99 ” ” ” 70 ” 100F ” ” ” 80 ” 101F ” ” ” 90 ” 102F ” ” ” 100 ” 103F ” ” ” 110 ” 104F ” ” ” 120 ” 105F ” ” ” 130 ” 106F ” ” ” 140
”The tissue waste is marked in proportion to the severity and duration of the febrile phenomena, being slight or (nil) in febricula, and excessive in typhoid fever.
”The disordered secretions are manifested by the deficiency in the salivary, gastric, intestinal, and nephritic secretions, the tongue being furred, the mouth clammy, and there occurring anorexia, thirst, constipation, and scanty, high-colored acid urine.”[6]
[Footnote 6: What has the student gained by reading the above definition of this standard author and representative of present medical attainment but a labored effort to explain what he does not know.]
FEVERS ONLY EFFECTS.
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