ADYNAMIA. 



385 



and mutual influence of the stomach and uterus ; and it is 

 probable, that the dyspepsia attending chlorosis is merely the 

 atony affecting the uterus, communicated to the stomach, and 

 this Dyspepsia therefore is properly a species, but to be con- 

 sidered as symptomatic. 



" This leads to two remarks : One is, that while the chlo- 

 rosis is almost constantly attended with dyspepsia, or symp- 

 toms referred to that, among which are anorexia, it is often also 

 attended with a keen appetite, and especially for matters not es- 

 culent ; and therefore a question arises how far a sharp, or an 

 irregular appetite, may belong to a real debility ; I think it may, 

 and probably does. Appetite may arise from sensations of con- 

 sciousness, and always does from a feeling of some want in the 

 stomach, a sense of emptiness, a want of distention ; and though 

 it consists, or chiefly depends on the vigorous tone of the fibres, 

 yet that only gives occasion to feel more sensibly the want of 

 something for it to act upon. 



" In other cases, it arises entirely from the want of action and 

 stimulus, as in the case of a desire for salt, and otherwise sapid 

 things, and where the appetite is confined to these. It is a 

 case of the same kind, when a person has been accustomed to 

 the stimulus of a dram ; and the want of it gives an uneasy 

 sensation, which produces an appetite for the renewal of it 



" Appetites may therefore arise from a sense of debility, and 

 may be combined with dyspepsia. They are likely to be irregu- 

 lar, for the natural causes will be directed to the natural object. 

 But why they are in certain cases so very irregular, it is impos- 

 sible to say. 



" Why a dryness of the mouth should give thirst, and an 

 emptiness of the stomach should give hunger, we know not, and 

 must resolve it into the will of our Maker. It is the same 

 with the irregular appetites ; we can never perceive their ef- 

 ficient, and not always their final cause, but in general we can 

 perceive them dependent on a state of debility, a sense of want . 

 of the usual stimulus or action. 



" Another remark to be made is, that not only appetites may 

 arise from want of action in the stomach, but may also arise 

 from increased action, and an increased action attending debility. 

 As spasms are often attendant on atony, so are convulsive or ir- 



VOL. II. '2 B 



