Class II. i. 3. 2. OF SENSATION. 1S9 



When die external fkin is the feat of inflammation, and pro- 

 duces feiifitive irritated fever, no collection of matter is formed, 

 as when a phlegmon is fituated in the cellular membrane beneath 

 the (kin > but the cuticle riles as beneath a biifter-platter, and 

 becomes ruptured •, and a yellow material oozes out, and be- 

 comes infpiifated, and lies upon its furface ; as is feen in this 

 kind of eryfipelas, and in the confluent fmajU-pox ; or if the new 

 velfels are reabforbed the cuticle peels off in fcales. This differ- 

 ence of the termination of eryfipeiatous and phlegmonic inflam- 

 mation feems to be owing in part to the lefs diftenfibiiity of the 

 cuticle than of the cellular membrane, and in part to the ready 

 exhalation of the thinner parts of the fecreted fluids through its 

 pores. 



This eryfipelas is generally preceded by a fever for two or 

 three days before the eruption, which is liable to appear in fome 

 places, as it declines in others ; and feems frequently to arife 

 from a previous fcratch or injury of the flcin ; and is attended 

 fometimes with inflammation of the cellular membrane beneath 

 the fkin ; whence a real phlegmon and collection of matter be- 

 come joined to the eryfipelas, and either occafion or increafe 

 the irritated fever, which attends it. 



There is a greater fympathy between the external fkin and 

 the meninges of the brain, than between the cellular membrane 

 and thofe meninges 5 whence eryfipelas is more liable to be pre- 

 ceded, or attended, or fucceeded, by delirium than internal 

 phlegmons. I except the mumps, or parotitis, defcribed below ; 

 which is properly an external gland, as its excretory duel: opens 

 into the air. When pain of the head or delirium precedes the 

 cutaneous eruption of the face, there is fome reafon to believe, 

 that the primary difeafe is a torpor of the meninges of the brain ; 

 and that the fucceeding violent aclion is transferred to the fkin 

 of the face by fenfitive afTociation ; and that a fimilar fympathy 

 occurs between fome internal membranes and the fkin over them, 

 when eryfipelas appears on other parts of the body. If this cir- 

 cumftance fhould be fupported by further evidence, this difeafe 

 (hould be removed into Clafs IV. along with the rheumatifm 

 and gout. See Clafs IV. 1.2. 17. 



This fuppofed retropulfion of eryfipelas on the brain from 

 the frequent appearance of delirium, has prevented the free ufe 

 of the lancet early in this difeafe to the deltruclion of many; 

 as it has prevented the fubduing of the general nflamnvation, 

 and thus has in the end produced the particular one on the 

 brain. Mr. B , a delicate gentleman about fixty, had an ery- 

 fipelas beginning near one ear, and extending by degrees over 

 the wfrcle head, with hard, full, and itrcng pu!fe ; biood was ta- 

 ken 



