[p. 183]
tertians, quartans, quintans, septans, nonans. The
most acute diseases, the most severe, difficult and
fatal, belong to the continuous fevers. The least
fatal and least difficult of all, but the longest of all,
is the quartan. Not only is it such in itself, but it
also ends other, and serious, diseases. In the fever
called semitertian, which is more fatal than any
other, there occur also acute diseases, while it
especially precedes the illness of consumptives, and
of those who suffer from other and longer diseases.
The nocturnal is not very fatal, but it is long. The
diurnal is longer still, and to some it also brings
a tendency to consumption. The septan is long but
not fatal. The nonan is longer still but not fatal.
The exact tertian has a speedy crisis and is not
fatal. But the quintan is the worst of all. For if it
comes on before consumption or during consumption
the patient dies.
PART 25
XXV. Each of these fevers has its modes, its
constitutions and its exacerbations. For example,
a continuous fever in some cases from the beginning
is high and at its worst, leading up to the most
severe stage, but about and at the crisis it moderates.
In other cases it begins gently and in a suppressed
manner, but rises and is exacerbated each
day, bursting out violently near the crisis. In some
cases it begins mildly, but increases and is exacerbated,
reaching its height after a time ; then it
declines again until the crisis or near the crisis.
These characteristics may show themselves in any
fever and in any disease. It is necessary also to
consider the patient's mode of life and to take it
