Sup. 1.8. i. THEORY OF FEVER. 461 



tates the renovation of the torpor of the whole fyftem, and gives 

 caufe to intermittent fevers catenated with lunar or folar influ- 

 ence. 



VIII. Orgafm of the Capillaries. 



As the remaining torpor of fome lefs efTential part of the fyf- 

 tem, as of the fpleen, when the hot fit ceafes, produces after 

 one, two, or three days a return of cold fit by direct fympathy 

 with the cutaneous capillaries, when joined with fome other 

 caufe of torpor, as the defect of folar or lunar influences, or the 

 expofure to cold or hunger, and thus gives origin to intermit- 

 tent fever ; fo the remaining torpor of fome more efTential parts 

 of the fyftem, as of the ftomach and inteltines, is probably the 

 caufe of the immediate recurrence of the cold paroxyfm, at the 

 time the hot one ceafes, by their direct fympathy with the cu- 

 taneous capillaries, without the aftiftance of any other caufe of 

 torpor ; and thus produces remittent fever. And laftly the re- 

 maining torpor of fome ftill more efTential parts of the fyftem, 

 as the heart and arteries, after the hot fit ought to ceafe 3 is lia- 

 ble by reverfe fympathy with the cutaneous capillaries to con- 

 tinue their orgafm, and thus to render a fever continual, which 

 would otherwife remit or intermit. 



Many difficulties here occur, which we (hall endeavour to 

 throw fome light upon, and leave to future investigation ; ob- 

 ferving only that difficulties were to be expected, otherwife fe- 

 vers would long fince have been underflood, as they have em- 

 ployed the unremitted attention of the phyficians of all ages of 

 the world. 



1. Why do the fame parts of fucceflive trains of action fome- 

 times affect each other by direcl, and fometimes by reverfe fym- 

 pathy ? — 1 ft, When any irritative motion ceafes, or becomes 

 torpid, which was before in perpetuaj action ; it is either de- 

 prived of its ufual ftimulus, and thence the fenforial power of 

 irritation is not excited ; or it has been previoufly too much ftim- 

 ulated, and the fenforial power has been thus exhaufted. 



In the former cafe an accumulation of fenforial power foon 

 occurs, which is excitable by a renewal of the ftimulus ; as when 

 the fingers, which have been immerfed fome time in mow, are 

 again exposed to the ufual warmth of a room. Or, fecondly, the 

 fenforial power of irritation becomes fo much accumulated, that 

 the motions, which were torpid, are now performed by lefs 

 ftimulus than natural ; as appears by the warmth, which foon 

 occurs after the firft chill in going into frofty air, or into the 

 bath at Buxton, which is about eighty degrees of heat. Or, 



laftly, 



