478 THEORY OF FEVER. Sup. I. ii. 6. 



every part of the body, being thus much diminiflied or nearly 

 deftroyed, the fenforial power of aflbciation is not excited ; 

 which in health contributes to move the heart and arteries, and 

 all the reit of the fyftern ; whence an univerfal torpor occurs. 



When the hot fit approaches, the ftomach in fevers with 

 ftrong pulie regains its activity by the accumulation of the fen- 

 forial power either of irritation, if it was the part firll affected, 

 or of aflbciation if it was affected in fympathy with fome other 

 torpid part, as the fpieen or liver ; which accumulation is pro- 

 duced during its torpor. At the fame time ail the other parts 

 of the fyftern acquire greater energy of action by the accumula- 

 tion of the fenforial power of aflbciation, which was produced, 

 during their inactivity in the cold fit. 



But in fevers with weak pulfe the ftomach, in which the fen- 

 forial power of irritation had been previouily exhaufted by vio- 

 lent action, acquires no fuch quick accumulation of fenforial 

 power, but remains in a itate of torpor after the hot fit com- 

 mences. The heart and arteries remain alfo in a ftate of tor- 

 por, becaufe there continues to be no excitement of their power 

 of aflbciation owing to the torpid motions of the ftomach ; but 

 hence it happens, that there exifts at this time a great accumu- 

 lation of the power of aflbciation in the lefs active fibres of the 

 heart and arteries ; which, as it is not excited and expended by 

 them, increafes the affociability of the next link of the aflbciated 

 chain of motions, which confifts of the capillaries or other 

 glands 5 and that in fo great a degree as to actuate them with 

 unnatural energy, and thus to produce a perpetual hot fit 'of fe- 

 vejr. Becaufe the affociability of the capillaries is fo much in- 

 creafed by the accumulation of this power, owing to the ieflfen- 

 cd activity of the heart and arteries, as to over-balance the lef- 

 fened excitement of it by the weaker movements of the heart 

 and arteries. 



6. When the accumulation of the fenforial power of irrita- 

 tion caufed by defedt of ftimulus is greater in the firft link of a 



in of actions, to which aflociated motions are catenated, than 

 the deficiency of the excitement of the fenforial power of aflbcia- 

 tion in the next link, what happens ? — the fuperabundance of the 

 unemployed fenforial power of the firft link is derived to the 

 fccond ; the affociability of which thus becomes fo greatly in- 

 creafed, that it acts more violently than natural, though the ex. 

 citement of its power of aflbciation by theleffened action of the 

 firft link is lefs than natural. So that in this fituation the with- 

 drawing of an accuitomed ftimulus in fome parts of the fyftern 

 will decreafe the irritative motions of that part, and at the fame 



time 



