Fever

(fe'vŭr.) [ Fr. fièvre, from L. feb ris.] (Med.) A disease affecting the entire system, characterized by an increase of heat, an accelerated pulse, great thirst, and an impaired state of several functions. It generally begins with languor of body and mind, chilline amounting to shivering, though the skin often at the same time feels hot; the pulsation is quicker than it ought to be; respiration is hurried or labored; there are pains in various parts of the body, particularly about the head, back, or loins; there is a lo of appetite, or nausea and vomiting; the mouth is dry; the bowels generally constipated; the urine small in quantity and deep in color. The varieties of this disease are numerous; but the grand division is into remittent fevers, which subside or abate at intervals; intermittent fevers, which inter mit or entirely cease at intervals; and continued fevers, which neither remit nor inter mit. [s. 362]