Sup. I. 2. i. THEORY OF FEVXR. 44y 



thefe abforbents and veins generally occurs along with that of 

 the capillaries, as appears by the dry (kin in hot fits of fever ; 

 and from there being generally at the fame time no accumula- 

 tion of venous blood in the cutaneous veiTels, which would ap- 

 pear by its purple colour. 



II. Compound Fever. 



i. When other parts of the fyftem fympathize with this tor- 

 por and orgafin of the cutaneous capillaries, and of the heart 

 and arteries ; the fever-fit becomes more complicated and dan- 

 gerous ; and this in proportion to the number and confequence 

 of fuch affected parts. Thus if the lungs become affected, as 

 in going into very cold water, a ihortnefs of breath occurs ; 

 which is owing to the collapfe or inactivity (not to the active 

 contraction, or fpafm), of the pulmonary capillaries ; which, as 

 the lungs are not fenfible to cold, are not fubjeet to painful 

 fenfation, and confequent fhuddcring, like the (kin. In this cafe 

 after a time the pulmonary capillaries, like the cutaneous ones, 

 act with increafed energy ; the breathing, which was before 

 quick, and the air thrown out at each refpiration in lefs quanti- 

 ty, and cool to the back of the hand oppofed to it, now becomes 

 larger in quantity, and warmer than natural ; which however is 

 not accompanied with the fenfation of heat in the membrane, 

 which lines the air-velTels of the lungs, as in the fkin. 



2. One confequence of this increafed heat of the breath is 

 the increafed evaporation of the mucus on the tongue and nof- 

 trils. A vifeid materal is fecreted by thefe membranes to pre- 

 ferve them moid and fupple, for the purpofes of the fenfes of 

 tafte and of fmell, which are extended beneath their furfaces j 

 this vifeid mucus, when the aqueous part of it is evaporated by 

 the increafed heat of the refpired air, or is abforbed by the too 

 great action of the mucous abforbents, adheres clofely on thofe 

 membranes, and is not without difficulty to be feparated from 

 them. This drynefs of the tongue and noftrils is a circumftance 

 therefore worthy to be attended to ; as it fhews the increafed 

 action of the pulmonary capillaries, and the confequent increaf- 

 ed heat of the expired air; and may thus indicate, when colder 

 air mould be admitted to the patient. See Clafs I. i. 3. 1. 

 The middle part of the tongue becomes dry fooner, and recov- 

 ers- its moifture later, than the edges of it ; beca^fe fhe currents 

 of refpired'air pafs moft over the middle part of it. This how- 

 ever is not the cafe, when the drynefs of the tongue is owing 

 only to the increafed mucous abforption. When however a- 

 frequent cough attends pulmonary inflammation, the edges of 

 Vol. II. K k k the 



