AGUE

AGUE, periodical Disease, consisting in a cold shivering Fit, succeeded by a hot one; and going off in a Diaphoresis, or Sweating. See DISEASE.If the Coldness and Shivering be inconsiderable, and only the hot Fit felt; the Disease is called an Intermitting Fever. See FEVER.According to the Periods or Returns of the Fits, the Disease is either a Quotidian, Tertian, or Quartan Ague, or Fever. See QUOTIDIAN, TERTIAN, QUARTAN, etc. The next Cause of Agues, seems to be an obstructed Perspiration, or whatever by overloading the Juices, retards their Motion, or causes a Lentor in the Blood. The Symptoms are Heaviness and Reaching; a weak, slow Pulse; Coldness, and Shivering, felt first in the Joints, thence creeping over the whole Body; Pain in the Loins, and an involuntary Motion of the under Jaw. A Vernal Ague is easily cured; but an Autumnal one is more obstinate, especially in aged and cachectic Persons;if complicated with a Dropsy, Peripneumony, etc., dangerous. When an Ague proves fatal, it is usually in the cold Fit. The Cure is usually begun with an Emetic of Ipecacuanha, an Hour before the Access; and completed with the Cortex Peruvianus, administered in the Interval between two Fits; and continued at times, to prevent a Relapse. See CORTEX. Dr. Quincy endeavours to account for the Effect of the Bark, from the Irregularity, Asperity, and Solidity of its Particles, which fit it to break those Viscidities in the Juices whereby the Capillaries were obstructed, and to draw up the Solids into a Tension, sufficient by the vigorous Vibrations ensuing thereon, to prevent any future Accumulation thereof. The first Intention, he observes, is answered by giving the Blood a greater Momentum; and the second, by its corrugating the Nerves, and rendering the Contractions of the Vessels more brisk and forcible. Hence also its Effects upon such as are apt to sweat immoderately.

AGUE