g Fever, or Ague.

This Disorder belongs to the same Tribe of Diseases as the Remitting
Fever. We call it an Intermitting Fever, or Ague, when the Paroxysms
are distinct, begin with a cold and hot Fit, and go off with a Sweat;
and the Patient is cool, and free from the Fever in the Intervals
between the Fits.

Many have been the Causes alledged to produce this Disorder. The great
Quantity of Bile that is often thrown up in the Fit, has caused it to
be ranked among the bilious Diseases; and the Seasons of the Year in
which it is most frequent, and the low moist Situation of the Places
where it is endemic, have made Practitioners suspect, that an
obstructed Perspiration, and a Tendency in the Juices to the
Putrescent, are the Cause of it.

But whatever Cause we may suppose to give Rise to the first feverish
Fit, it is difficult from hence to account for the regular Returns of
the Paroxysms and Intermissions: For my own Part, after considering
Intermittents, which observed a regular _Type_ in the Course of a
Salivation[78]; their being so easily stopt by the Bark without any
sensible Evacuation; their being sometimes put away by a Stimulus
externally applied[79], or by a Fright, or sudden Plunge into cold
Water[80]; their returning after slight Errors in Diet, and sometimes
by the Operation of a Purge, or of Bleeding; their attacking sometimes
only particular Parts, and many such Accidents in these Fevers, I must
confess, that I am unable to form any Idea, either of their Origin,
Seat, or Cause[81].

[78] See _Van Swieten_, Vol. II. p. 537.

[79] A Gentleman told me, that he was once cured of an Ague
in the Country, by applying a Poultice of Garlic to his
Wrists, and letting it lie on till it inflamed and blistered
the Part.--I have seen Blisters cure an Ague.--In the
_Edinburgh Med. Essays_, Vol. II. Art. v. we have an Account
of Agues being cured by the Application of Poultices of
recent Erigerum (Groundsel) applied to the Stomach on the
Days free from the Paroxysm, which caused strong Vomiting.

[80] See an Account of an Ague being cured by the Patient
being pushed into a Pool of Water without any previous
Notice, and being much frightened, in _Mason's Account of
Agues_, p. 222.

[81] The common Account given of the Cause of Agues, and of
the regular Return of their Paroxysms, has been: That the
Ague takes its Rise from some Sort of Matter, bili