Sup. I. 8. 6. THEORY OF FEVER. 46$ 



ciated motions, are for a time actuated with lefs energy, and a 

 temporary general chillnefs fucceeds ; which is fo far funilar to 

 the cold fit of intermittent fever. 



In this fituation there is a curious circumftance occurs, which 

 merits peculiar attention : after a fhort time, though the exter- 

 nal fkin continues cool by its expofure to the cold air, and the 

 actions of its capillaries are confequently dimimthed, yet the ca- 

 pillaries of the ftomach act with greater energy ; as is known 

 by increafed digeftion and confequent hunger. This is to be 

 afcribed to the accumulation of the fenforial power of irritation, 

 which now excites by its fuperabundance, or overflowing, as it 

 were, the ftomach into increafed action ; though it is at the fame 

 time excited lefs powerfully than ufual by the fenforial power of 

 aflbciation. Thus the accumulation of the fenforial power o£ 

 irritation in the vefTels of the fkin increafes in this cafe the ac- 

 tion of the ftomach, in the fame manner as an accumulation of 

 the fenforial power of aflbciation in the heart and arteries in fe- 

 vers with weak pulfe increafes the action of the capillaries. 



If neverthelefs the coldnefs of the fkin be too long continued, 

 or exills in too great a degree, fo as in fome meafure to impair 

 the life of the part, no further accumulation of the fenforial 

 power of irritation occurs ; and in confequence the actions of 

 the ftomach become lefs than natural by the defect of the fen- 

 forial power of aflbciation ; which has ceafed to be excited by 

 the want of action of the cutaneous capillaries. Whence con- 

 tinued coldnefs of the feet is accompanied with indigeflion and 

 heartburn. See CI a is IV. 2. i. 6. 



6. Similar to this when the actions of the ftomach are ren- 

 dered torpid by the previous ftimulus of a violent emetic, and 

 its motions become retrograde in confequence, a great quantity 

 of fenforial power is exerted on the lymphatics of the lungs, 

 and other parts of the body ; which excites them into greater 

 direct action, as is evinced by the exhibition of digitalis in ana- 

 farca. In this fituation I fuppofe the emetic drug ftimulatesthe 

 mufcular fibres of the ftomach into too great action ; and that 

 in confequence a great torpor foon fucceeds ; and that this in- 

 action of the mufcular parts of the ftomach is not followed by 

 much accumulation of the fenforial power of irritation ; be- 

 caufe that fenforial power is in great meafure exhaufted by the 

 previous exceffive ftimulus. But the lymphatics of the ftom- 

 ach have their actions leffened bv defect of fenforial power 

 of aflbciation, which is not now excited into action, owing to 

 the leffened motions of the mufcular parts of it, with which the 

 lymphatics are afTcciated. The fenforial power of aflbciation 

 becomes therefore accumulated in thefe lymphatics of the ftom- 



Voil. II. 3M m m ach, 



