Class IT. i. 2. 7. OF SENSATION. 173 



have had the happieft effect, and cured the patient in this cafe, 

 as well as in common peripneumony ; it muft be repeated two 

 or three evenings, Ice Oafs II. 1.2. 4. as the exacerbation of 

 the fever, and difficult refpiration, and delirium, generally in- 

 creafe towards night. 



The ftimulus of this fmall quantity of opium on a patient 

 previously io much debilitated, acts by increaiing the exertion of 

 the abfoibent velTels, in the fame manner as a folution of opium, 

 or any other ftimulant, put on an inflamed eye after the vefTeis 

 are previoufly emptied by evacuations, ftimulates the abforbent 

 fvltem, fo as to caufe the remaining new veflTels to be immediate- 

 ]y reabibrbed. Which fame flimulants would have increafed 

 the inflammation, if they had been applied before the evacua- 

 tions. See Clafs II. 1. 2. 2. Seel. XXXIII. 3. 1. When the 

 f inguiferous fyftem is full of blood, the abforbents cannot act fo 

 powerfully, as the progrefs of their contents is oppofed by the 

 previous fulnefs of the blood-vefTels •, whence flimulants in that 

 cafe increafe the action of the fecerning fyftem more than of the 

 abiorbent one ; but after copious evacuation this refiftance to 

 the progrefs of the abforbed fluids is removed ; and when ftim- 

 ulanls are then applied, they increafe the action of the abforb- 

 ent fyftem more than that of the fecerning one. Hence opium 

 given in the commencement of inflammatory difeafes de- 

 ftroys the patirnt ; and cures them, if given in very fmall dofes 

 at the end of inflammatory difeafes. 



7. Carditis. Inflammation of the heart is attended with un- 

 equal intermitting pulfe, palpitation, pain in the middle of the 

 fternum, and conftant vomiting. It cannot certainly be diftin- 

 gui flied from peripneumony, and is perhaps always combined 

 with it. 



8. Peritonitis. Inflammation of the peritonaeum is known 

 by pain all over the abdomen, which is increafed on erecting the 

 body. It has probably moft frequently a rheumatic origin. See 

 Clafs II. 1. 2. 17. 



9. Mef enteritis. Inflammation of the rnefentery is attended 

 with pains like colic, and with curdled or chyle-like ftools. It 

 is a very frequent and dangerous difeafe, as the production of 

 matter more readily takes place in it than in any other vifcus. 

 The confequence of which, after a hard labour, is probably the 

 puerperal fever, and in fcrofulous habits a fatal purulent fever, 

 or hopelefs consumption, 



M. M. Venefection. Warm bath. Emollient clyftcrs. 



10. Gaftntis. In inflammation of the ftomach the pulfe is 

 generally foft, probably occafioned by the ficknefs which attends 



it. 



