Sup. I. 12. io. THEORY OF FEVER. 485 



ach is owing to defect of the fenforial power of aiTociation, 

 which is caufed by the too feeble actions of the membranes fur- 

 rounding the difeafed tooth, and thus the train of fympathy ceaf- 

 es here without affecting the motions of the heart and arteries j 

 but where contagious matter is fwallowed into the ftomach, the 

 ftomach after a time becomes torpid from exhauition of the fen- 

 forial power of irritation, and the heart and arteries act feebly 

 from defect of the excitement of the power of aiTociation. In 

 the former cafe the torpor of the itomach is conquered by 

 accumulation of the power of aiTociation in one or two whole 

 days ; in the latter it recovers by accumulation of the power of 

 irritation in three or four weeks. 



fn intermittent fevers the ftomach is generally I believe af- 

 fected fecondarily by fympathy with the torpid cutaneous ca- 

 pillaries, or with fome internal torpid vifcus, and on this ac- 

 count an accumulation of fenforial power arifes in a few hours 

 fufHcient to reftore the natural irritability of this organ ; and 

 hence the hot fit fucceeds, and the fever intermits. Or if this 

 accumulation of fenforial power becomes exceffive and per- 

 manent, the continued fever with ftrong pulfe is produced, or 

 febris irritativa. 



In continued fevers the ftomach is frequently I fuppofe af- 

 fected with torpor by previous excefs of itimulus, and confe- 

 quent exhauition of fenforial power, as when contagious matter 

 is fwallowed with the faliva, and it is then much flower in pro- 

 ducing an accumulation of fenforial power fufficient to reftore its 

 healthy irritability ; which is a frequent eaufe of continued fe- 

 ver with weak pulfe or febris inirritativa. Which confifts, after 

 the cold fit is over, in a more frequent and more feeble action 

 of the heart and arteries, owing to their direct fympathy with 

 the mufcular fibres of the torpid ftomach ; together with an in- 

 creafed action of the capillaries, glands, and abforbents of the 

 lkin, and cellulular membrane, owing to their reverfe fympathy 

 with the torpid capillaries, glands, and abforbents of the ftom- 

 ach, or with thofe of the heart and arteries. 



Or in more accurate language. 1. The febris inirritativa, or 

 fever with weak pulfe, commences with torpor of the ftomach, 

 occafioned by previous exhauition of fenforial power of irrita- 

 tion by the itimulus of contagious matter fwallowed with the 

 faliva. 2. The whole fyftem becomes torpid from defect of 

 the excitement of the fenforial power of aiTociation owing to 

 the too feeble actions of the ftomach, this is the cold fit. 3. The 

 whole fyftem, except the ftomach with the upper inteltines, and 

 the heart and arteries, falls into increafed action, or orgafm, 

 owing to accumulation of fenforial power of aiTociation during 



their 



