s_, and since more
fully explained by Dr. _Pringle_, _Observations on the
Diseases of the Army_, part iii. chap. vii.

When once this Fever begins, it is observed to be of a contagious
Nature, and (if proper Care is not taken) to affect those who attend
the Sick, or who live in the same Room, and breathe the same Air with
them.

Many Authors have reckoned the Malignant, Petechial, and Pestilential,
to be distinct Species of Fevers; and have treated each of them under
a particular Head. But _Riverius_[27] has very justly observed, that
they all belong to the same pestilential Tribe, and only differ from
one another in the Degree of Infection, and the Violence of the
Symptoms[28]; and that they are to be cured by the same general
Treatment, and the same Medicines.

[27] _River. Prax. Med._ lib. xvi. sect. iii. Praefat.

[28] The Malignant or Hospital Fever, and Petechial, seemed
to me to be entirely the same Disorder, and the Petechial
Spots to be only a Symptom which appeared sometimes, but not
always. And _Riverius_ says, the Petechiae do not always
appear; but when they do, it is a most certain Sign of a
Pestilential Fever. See his _Prax. Med._ cap. xvi. sect. iii.

OF THE DYSENTERY.

The Dysentery generally began to appear soon after the Army took the
Field; and became frequent about the End of _July_, and continued so
till the Army went into Winter-Quarters; and through the Winter, many
of those, who had this Disorder in Autumn, relapsed, upon returning to
their Duty; or by drinking too freely of spirituous Liquors, and being
irregular in their Living.

It is now generally agreed upon, that this Disorder is entirely
produced by such Causes as make the Juices become too putrescent, and
turn the Flow of Humours to the Bowels; and in the Camp it seemed to
arise principally from an obstructed Perspiration caused by the Men's
lying in the Field, and doing the necessary Military Duties in all
Sorts of Weather; at the same Time being often exposed to the putrid
Steams of dead Horses, of the Privies, and of other corrupted Animal
or Vegetable Substances[29], after their Juices had been highly
exalted by the Heat of Summer.

[29] The Dysentery has been long alledged to arise from a
putrescent Cause in Camps; from the Smell of corrupted dead
Animals, and of Excrements, during the Heat of Summer.
_Ramazini_, in his Chapter on Camp-Diseases, informs us, that