224 OF THE STOMACH Sect. XXV. 17, 



m 



from torpor, the pulfe is weaker, and the extremities colder, and 

 the general debility greater, than in the p of a gill-done > 



• in the former the debility is the confequence of the pain, in 

 the latter it is the caufe of it. 



Though the nrfl fits oi the gout, I believe, commence with 

 a torpor of the liver ; and the ball of the toe becomes inflam< 

 mftead of the membranes of the liver in confequence of this tor- 

 por, as a coryza or catarrh frequently fucceeds a long expofure 

 of the feet to cold, as in fnow, or on a moift brick-floor ; yet in 

 old or exhaufted conftitutions, which have been long habituated 

 to its attacks, it fometimes commences with a torpor of the ftom- 

 ach, and is transferable to every membrane of the body. When 

 the gout begins with torporsof the flomach, a painful fenfation 

 of cold occurs, which the patient compares to ice, with weak 

 pulfe, cold extremities, and ficknefs *, this in its (lighter degree is 

 relievable by fpice, wine, or opium ; in its greater degree it is 

 fucceeded by fudden death, which is owing to the fympathy of 

 the ftomach with the heart, as explained below, 



If the flomach becomes inflamed in confequence of this gouty 

 torpor of it, or in confequence of its fympathy with fome oth- 

 er part, the danger is lefs. A frckfiefs and vomiting continues 

 many days, or even weeks, the ftomach rej 3 ; every thing 

 ftimulant, even opium or alcohol, together with much vifcid 

 mucus *, till the*.inflammation at length ceafes, as happens when 

 ether membranes, as thofe of the joints, are the feat oi gouty in- 

 flammation ; as obferved in Seel:. XXIV. 2. 8. 



The fympathy, or aflbciation of motions, between thofe of 

 the flomach and thofe of the heart, is evinced in many difeafes. 

 Firft, many people areoccafionally affected with an intermiflion of 

 their pulfe for a few days, which then ceafes again. In this ca 

 there is a flop of the motion oi the heart, and at the fame time a 

 tendency to eructation from the ftomach. As foon as the patic 



■.Is a tendency to the intermiflion of the motion of his heart, if 

 he voluntari : y brings up wind from his ftomach, the flop of the 

 heart does not occur. From hence I elude that the (top of di- 

 geftion is the primary difeafe *, and that air is inftantly generated 



•m the aliment, which begins to ferment, if the digeftivc pro- 

 cefs is impeded for a moment, (fee SecJ. XXIII. 4.) •, and that the 

 flop of the heart is in confequence of the aflbciation of the motions 



thefe vifcera-as explained in Sect- XXXV. 1. 4.5 but if the 



little air, which is inftantly gc cd during the temporary torpor 



of the flomach, be evacuated, the digeflion recommences, and tl 



temporary torpor of the heart does not follow. One patient, 



whom I lat and who had bten five or fix days much 



troubled iter million of a puliation of his heart, and 



who 



