ON CATARRH. 3O9 



emun6]:ones, outlets, or pores of the fkin, ferv- 

 ing to eliminate the invifible perfpiration, or 

 fteam, are aflringed and clofed, and the perfpi- 

 rable matter repelled into the habit. A tranf- 

 lation of the obftru6led matter to Sneiders 

 membrane, ufually happens fooner or later, if 

 that be not primarily affefted ; at leaf! the nof- 

 trils are the common channel for the difcharge 

 of catarrh. Sneider, the cotemporary of Har- 

 vey, firft defcribed the pituitary membrane, or 

 web, which lines the nofe, palate, and oefopha- 

 gus, and is filled with fmall glands, fecreting a 

 ilimy liquor, whence, and not from the brain, 

 proceeds the running at the nofe in a cold. In 

 a local cold, fome particular part of the body 

 only, which may have been accidentally ex- 

 pofed, is affeded, and the tenfion, inflamma- 

 tion, and pain, are confined to that part: fliould 

 a portion of the morbid matter remain unab- 

 forbed, or ftritlures be brought upon the vef- 

 fels by repeated cold-ftrokes, the difeafe, in 

 procefs of time, becomes chronic, and then afr 

 fumes the appellation of rheumatism. 



The new medical fchool has, it feems, re- 

 jefted the ancient theory of the origin of catarrh, 

 from obflrufted perfpiration. I can fcarcely 

 comprehend the fcope of Dr. Beddoes' inten- 

 tion, when he informs us, that he has repeatedly 

 turned a horfe out by night, in the winter 

 feafon, from the warm flable into the fields, and 



taken 



