Disputatio de phrenitide

LIV.
Procatarctic or extrinsic causes can be, primarily, hot and dry air; lingering under the sun; hot food and drink, such as aromatics; the copious use of stronger wine, etc.; hot medicines; poisons; vehement exercise; strong rubbing of the head; bathing; vigils; and disturbances of the mind, such as anger and all other things which can increase and generate bile.

LV.
It follows that we must now deal with the signs, which are either distinctive—by which phrenitis is discerned from similar affections—or diagnostic, by which it is recognized (and these again are of the incipient or the established phrenitis), or prognostic. But first, let us treat of the distinctive ones.

LVI.
Mania and Melancholia are distinguished from phrenitis because they afflict men without a fever; a phrenetic patient, however, always has a fever joined to it. Furthermore, phrenetic patients have this peculiarity: they pick at threads; but the Maniacal and Melancholic do not. Finally, Mania and Melancholia are long-term affections, but phrenitis is an acute affection, and is usually judged by the seventh day.

LVII.
The true or exquisita exquisite/perfect form is distinguished from the non-exquisite because in the non-exquisite, the delirium is not continuous, but has intermissions, just as the fever does. In certain species of phrenitis by consensus, it has interpolation. Furthermore, it differs from the delirium that arises from the diaphragm in respiration; for in true phrenitis, respiration is great and infrequent, whereas in the latter, it is unequal: for sometimes it is small and frequent, sometimes great and vehement.