Book 1
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Those of Synanche are, collapse, tenuity, and paleness; the eyes hollow, sunk inwardly; the fauces and uvula retracted upwards, the tonsils approaching one another still more; loss of speech: the feeling of suffocation is much stronger in this species than in the former, the mischief being seated in the chest whence the source of respiration. In the most acute cases, the patients die the same day, in some instances, even before calling in the physician; and in others, although called in, he could afford them no relief, for they died before the physician could apply the resources of his art. In those in which the disease takes a favourable turn, all the parts become inflamed, the inflammation being determined outwardly, so that the disease becomes cynanche in place of synanche. It is also a good thing when a strong swelling, or erysipelas, appears externally on the chest. And the skilful physician diverts the mischief to the chest by means of the cupping-instrument, or by applying mustard to the breast and the parts near the jaws he determines outwardly and discusses the disease. In certain cases, indeed, the evil by these means has been for a time driven outwards, but when so driven out it speedily reverts, and produces suffocation.
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The causes are infinite, more especially exposure to cold, and, less frequently, to heat; blows; fish-bones fixed in the tonsils, cold draughts, intoxication, repletion, and the ills from respiration.
CHAPTER VIII. ON THE AFFECTIONS ABOUT THE UVULA
