COLDS, &c. 197 



a variety of additional impofitions) happen 

 every day. Having here obliquely remarked 

 what I naturally conclude is almoft univerfally 

 known, I (hall be ftudioufly anxious to explain 

 the nature of colds, and the-r different effedls, 

 fo as to urge the necefTity of their being per- 

 fedly undcrftood, that prevention in future 

 may become an objcd of attention. 



The procefs of Nature we allude to, in the 

 appellation of cold, is a general obilrudlion 

 of the cutaneous paflages or pores of the fkin, 

 formed for the tranfpiration of perfpirable 

 matter, proportionally emitted from every 

 part of the frame, and intended to expel that 

 fuperfluous moifture by an almoft infenfible 

 evacuation. But this exertion of Nature be- 

 ing totally fupprefled, by a fudden collapfion, 

 or clofing of the pores, from one of the caufes 

 before defcribed, the perfpirable matter is pre- 

 vented in its natural courfe, and returned upon 

 the body in a preternatural and morbid ftate. 



We now come to the mifchievous effedl, 

 according to the degree of inveteracy or infec- 

 tion of the attack. The moft penetrating and 

 acrimonious particles immediately make their 

 O 3 paiTage 



