122 SURFEIT. 



ration^ and the blood consequently in the 

 liio'hest decree of circulation. 



The shock nature sustains by this revulsion 

 will be instantly conceived, even by a mind 

 not at all accustomed to search into the ab- 

 struse recesses of nature. The blood, in 

 its greatest velocity, is so instantaneously 

 checked by the styptic influence of tlie frigid 

 element, and the sudden contraction of the 

 solids, that the crassamentum, or balsamic 

 part of the blood, becomes immediately 

 thickened and inflamed, separating itself 

 from the serum or watery part, which (being, 

 from the inflammatory particles, impregnat- 

 ed with its portion of acrimony) extrava- 

 sates itself; and, by an effort of nature, is 

 propelled to the skin for transpiration, where 

 the pores (having been instantly collapsed 

 at the time of the water's taking effect) are ^ 

 so closely obstructed, that its passage to the 

 surface is 'dh<>o\wie\y prevented and rendered 

 impracticable. Thus fixed, it becomes united 

 with the perspirable matter already confined 

 there (forming a morbid combination), and 

 is, in the course of time, compelled by the 

 progress of internal inflammation to make 



