The Complete Works of Galen, Vol. 11

Ed. Chart. X. [549.] Ed. Bas. IV. (199.)

...inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the chest wall original: "peripneumonia, pleuritis" (Latin). These were understood as specific internal inflammations that caused fever as a secondary symptom., and others of that kind, about which we will speak later.

Chapter 4

Those fevers that are ignited by the humors The humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—were the core of Galenic physiology. An "ignition" or overheating of these fluids was thought to cause systemic fever. are called by that very name, "fevers." They are not symptoms of other diseases, but are diseases in themselves. Some of these occur without additional symptoms, and these are certainly the mildest. Others, however, distress the patient along with various symptoms.

We will first discuss those fevers that lack additional symptoms. In these cases, one should ideally determine what kind of fever it is on the very first day: whether it is long-lasting or acute, and whether it is of the type called intermittent original: "intermittens" (Latin) / "dialeipontōn" (Greek); a fever that comes and goes at intervals. or continuous.

If you cannot reach a conclusion on the first day, you should at least try to discover the specific nature of the fever on the second day. Even if nothing is diagnosed for certain on that day, something will surely appear more clearly to you on the third day. In fact, very few fevers require a fourth day for an accurate diagnosis. I will explain to you as briefly as possible the signs by which you may recognize the specific type of fever. A longer and clearer discussion of all these matters has been provided by us elsewhere.