4 8.o THEORY OF FEVER. Sup. I. ii. 7. 



covering the head in bed in a fhort time relieved the pertina- 

 cious fickneis of the patient, it mult be obferved, that when the 

 action of the heart and arteries becomes weakened by the want 

 of the due ftimulus of the proper quantity of oxygen in the 

 blood, an accumulation of the fenforial power of irritation oc- 

 curs in the fibres of the heart and arteries, which then is ex- 

 pended on thofe of the capillary glands, increafmg their actions 

 and confequent fecretions and heat. And then the ftomach is 

 thrown into ftronger action, both by the greater excitement of 

 its natural quantity of the fenforial power of aiTociation by the 

 increafed actions of the capillaries, and alfo by fome increafe of 

 aiTociabiiity, as it had been previously a long time in a ftate of 

 torpor, or lefs activity than natural, as evinced by its perpetual 

 iicknefs. 



In a manner fome what ilmilar to this, is the rednefs of the 

 fkin produced in angry people by the fuperabundance of the un- 

 employed fenforial power of volition, as explained in Clafs IV. 

 2. 3. 5. Rubor ex ira. From hence we learn how, when 

 people in fevers with weak pulfe, or in dropfies, become infane, 

 the abundance of the unemployed fenforial power of volition 

 increafes the actions of the whole moving fyftem, and cures 

 thofe difeafes. 



7. As the orgafm of the capillaries in fevers with weak pulfe 

 is immediately caufed by the torpid actions of the heart and ar- 

 teries, as above explained, this fupplies us with another indica- 

 tion of cure in fuch fevers, and that is to ftimulate thefe organs. 

 This may probably be done by fome kind of medicines, which 

 are known to pafs into the blood unchanged in fome of their 

 properties. It is poffible that nitre, or its acid, may pafs into the 

 blood and increafe the colour of it, and thus increafe its ftimu- 

 lus, and the fame may be iuppofed of other falts, neutral or me- 

 talic ? As rubia tinctoria, madder, colours the bones of young 

 animals, it mud pafs into the blood with its colouring matter 

 at lead unchanged, and perhaps many other medicines may 

 likewife affect the blood, and thus act by Simulating the heart 

 and arteries, as well as by ftimulating the Itomach ; which cir- 

 cumltance deferves further attention. 



Another way of immediately ftimulating the heart and arte- 

 ries would be by transfufmg new blood into them. Is it poffible 

 that any other fluid befides blood, as chyle, or milk, or water, 

 could, if managed with great art, be introduced fafely or advan- 

 tageoufly into the vein of a living animal ? 



A third method of exciting the heart and arteries immediate- 

 ly is by increafmg the natural ftimulus of the blood, and is well 

 worthy experiment in all fevers with weak pulfe ; and that con- 



fifts 



