Page:A dissertation on the puerperal fever (1789).djvu/20

 #Irritation upon the uterus.
 * 1) Accelerated circulation, and increased heat.
 * 2) Sanguineous evacuation.
 * 3) Suspension of the requisite discharges.

The first of these may very readily be conceived as exciting disease, by means of the sympathy of parts with the uterus; and it will conspire with the already increased irritability.

The second by giving activity to the retained stagnant fluids, as the bile or thinner parts of the fæces.

The third, by increasing the absorption of those fluids, the vessels of the receptacles being rendered more bibulous by the depletion. And

The last, by augmenting the quantity of colluvies, and by an application of putrid matter to the orifices of the uterine vessels, in addition to that contained in other parts.

That these may operate differently in different cases of predisposition, seems agreeable to the dictates of reason and common sense. The degrees of violence in the attack are allowed to depend much on constitution and on predisposing causes; and why may not the nature of the symptoms be dependant on them also? If it is granted that they may, are we not then justified in concluding, that the forms of this disease may be various in different cases, according to the predisposition of the habit? and may not the jarring opinions, and dissentient theories which the ingenious of our profession have advanced, be readily reconciled by these considerations? Of