wards the
end of it, when the sweat is seen upon the skin. But during the hot fit the
cutaneous absorbents act also with increased energy, and the exhalation is
likewise increased by the greater heat of the skin; and hence it does not
appear in drops on the surface, but is in part reabsorbed, and in part
dissipated in the atmosphere. But as the mouths of the cutaneous absorbents
are exposed to the cool air or bedclothes; whilst those of the capillary
glands, which secrete the perspirable matter, are exposed to the warmth of
the circulating blood; the former, as soon as the fever-fit begins to
decline, lose their increased action first; and hence the absorption of the
sweat is diminished, whilst the increased secretion of it continues for
some hours afterwards, which occasions it to stand in drops upon the skin.

As the skin becomes cooler, the evaporation of the perspirable matter
becomes less, as well as the absorption of it. And hence the dissipation of
aqueous fluid from the body, and the consequent thirst, are perhaps greater
during the hot fit, than during the subsequent sweat. For the sweats do not
occur, according to Dr. Alexander's experiments, till the skin is cooled
from 112 to 108 degrees of heat; that is, till the paroxysm begins to
decline. From this it appears, that the sweats are not critical to the hot
fit, any more than the hot fit can be called critical to the cold one; but
simply, that they are the natural consequence of the decline of the hot
fit, commencing with the decreased action of the absorbent system, and the
decreased evaporation from the skin. And from hence it may be concluded,
that a fever-fit is not in general an effort of nature to restore health,
as Sydenham considered it, but a necessary consequence of the previous
torpor; and that the causes of fevers would be less detrimental, if the
fever itself could be prevented from existing; as appears in the cool
treatment of the small-pox.

It must be noted that the profuse sweats on the skin are more frequent at
the decline of fever-fits than the copious urine, or loose stools, which
are mentioned below; as the cutaneous absorbents, being exposed to the cool
air, lose their increased action sooner than the urinary or intestinal
absorbents; which open into the warm cavities of the bladder and
intestines; but which are nevertheless often affected by their sympathy
with the cutaneous absorbents. Hence few fevers terminate without a
moisture of t