Art. VII. 2. 4. TORPENTIA. 79 



great an energy of motion or orgafm of the veflels fucceeds, as 

 to produce fever or inflammation. This mod frequently hap- 

 pens after the body has been temporarily heated by exercife, 

 warm rooms, anger, or intemperance. Hence colds are produ- 

 ced in the external air by refting after exercife, or by drinking 

 cold- water. See Glafs I. 2. 2. 1. 



Frequent cold immerfions harden or invigorate the conftitu- 

 tion, which they efFecT: by habituating the body to bear a dimi- 

 nution of heat on its furface without being thrown into fuch. 

 extenfive torpor or quiefcence by the confent of the veflels of 

 the fkin with the pulmonary and glandular fyftem ; as thofe 

 experience, who frequently ufe the cold bath. At firft they 

 have great anhelation and palpitation of heart at their ingrefs 

 into cold water ; but by the habit of a few weeks they are able 

 to bear this diminution of heat with little or no inconvenience ; 

 for the power of volition has fome influence over the mufcles 

 fubfervient to refpiration, and by its counter efforts gradually 

 prevents the quick breathing, and diminifhes the aflbciations of 

 the pulmonary veflels with the cutaneous ones. And thus though 

 the fame quantity of heat is fubducled from the fkin, yet the 

 torpor of the pulmonary veflels and internal glands does not 

 follow. Hence during cold immerfion lefs fenforial power is ac- 

 cumulated, and, in confequence, lefs exertion of it fucceeds on 

 emerging from the bath. Whence fuch people are efteemed 

 hardy, and bear the common variations of atmofpheric temper- 

 ature without inconvenience. See Seel:. XXXII. 3. 2. 



IV. Venefeciion has a juft title to be claffed amongft the 

 torpentia in cafes of fever with arterial ftrength, known by the 

 fulnefs and hardnefs of the pulie. In thefe cafes the heat be- 

 comes lefs by its ufe, and all exuberant fecretions, as of bile or 

 fweat, are diminifhed, and room is made in the blood-veflels for 

 the abforption of mild fluids ; and hence the abforption alfo 

 of new veflels, or extravafated fluids, the produce of inflam- 

 mation, is promoted. Hence venefeclion is properly clafTed 

 amongft the forbentia, as like other evacuations it promotes gen- 

 eral abforption, reftrains haemorrhages, and cures thofe pains, 

 which originate from the too great adlion of the fecerning vef- 

 fels, or from the torpor of the abforbents. I have more than 

 once been witnefs to the fudden removal of nervous head-achs 

 by venefeclion, though the patient was already exhaufted, pale, 

 and feeble ; and to iis great ufe in convulfions and madnefs, 

 whether the patient was ftrong or weak ; which difeafes are the 

 confequence of nervous pains ; and to its flopping long debili- 

 tating haemorrhages from the uterus, when other means had 

 been in vain eflayed. In inflammatory pains> and iniiammato- 



Vol. I. X x x ry 



