452 THEORY OF FEVER. Sup. I. 2. 8. 



its reabforption ? For oxygen gas penetrates moid animal mem- 

 branes though not dry ones, as in the lungs during refpiration. 

 See Clafs I. 2. 1. 17. 



8. When the Tentorial power of fenfation is introduced into 

 the arterial fyftem, other kinds of compound fevers are produc- 

 ed, which will be fpoken of in their place. 



III. Termination of the >cold Fit. 



1. If all the parts, which were affected with torpor, regain 

 their irritability, and aflbciability, the cold paroxyfm of fever 

 ceafes ; but as fome of the parts affected were previoufly accuf- 

 tomed to inceffant action, as the heart and arteries, and others 

 only to intermitted action, as the ftomach and inteftines ; and 

 as thofe, which are fubjefted during health to perpetual action, 

 accumulate fenforial power fafter, when their motions are im- 

 peded, than thofe which are fubjected to intermitted action ; it 

 happens, that fome of the parts, which were affected with tor- 

 por during the cold fit, recover their irritability or aflbciability 

 fooner than others, and more perfectly, or acquire a greater 

 quantity of them than natural ; as appears by the partial heat 

 and flUihings previous to the general hot fit. 



Hence if all the parts, which were previoufly torpid, regain 

 their due degree of irritability, or of affociability, the difeafe is 

 removed, and health reftored. If fome or all of them acquire 

 more than their natural degree of thefe fenforial powers ; in- 

 creafed actions, and confequent increafed fecretions, and greater 

 heat occur, and conftitutc the hot fit of fever. If after this hot 

 fit of fever all the parts, which had acquired too great irritabili- 

 ty, or affociability, regain their natural degree of it ; the dif- 

 eafe is removed, and health reftored. But if fome of thefe parts 

 do not regain their natural degree of thefe fenforial powers, the 

 actions of thofe parts remain imperfect, and are more or lefs 

 injurious to the fyftem, according to the importance of their 

 functions. 



2. Thus if a torpor of the heart and arteries remains -, the 

 quick pulfe without ftrength, which began in the cold fit, per- 

 fifts ; and a continued fever is produced. If the torpor of the 

 ftomach and inteftines remains, which is known by ficknefs and 

 undigested ftools, the fever is liable to be of confiderable length 

 and danger ; the fame if the kidneys and abforbent fyftem re- 

 tain fome degree of torpor, as is (hewn by the pale urine in not 

 unufual quantity. If part of the abforbent fyftem remains tor- 

 pid, as the abfoibent veftels of the fpleen, a tumour of that vif- 

 cus occurs, which may be felt by the hand ; the fame fome- 



times 



