CIASS I. 1, 1. DISEASES, &c. 



> - 'CLASS.'!.:' 



ORDO I. 



In cr edged Irritation . \ 



GENUS I. 



With increased Actions of the Sanguiferons System. 



THE irritability of the whole, or of part of our system is per- 

 petually changing; these vicissitudes of irritability and of inirri- 

 tability are believed to depend on the accumulation or exhaus- 

 tion of the sensorial power, as their proximate cause; and on the 

 difference of the present stimulus, and of that which we had 

 previously been accustomed to, as their remote cause. Thus a 

 smaller degree of heat produces pain and inflammation in our 

 hands, after they have been for a time immersed in snow; 

 which is owing to the accumulation of sensorial power in the 

 moving fibres of the cutaneous vessels during their previous qui- 

 escence, when they were benumbed with cold. And we feel 

 ourselves cold in the usual temperature of the atmosphere on 

 coming out of a warm room; which is owing to the exhaustion 

 of sensorial power in the moving fibres of the vessels of the skin 

 by their previous increased activity, into which they were excited 

 by unusual heat. 



Hence the cold fits of fever are the occasion of the succeeding 

 hot ones; and the hot fits contribute to occasion in their turn 

 the succeeding cold ones. And though the increase of stimulus, 

 as of heat, exercise, or distention, will produce an increased ac- 

 tion of the stimulated fibres; in the same manner as it is produced 

 by the increased irritability which is occasioned by a previous de- 

 fect of stimulus; yet as the excesses of irritation from the stimu- 

 lus of external things are more easily avoided than the deficien- 

 cies of it; the diseases of this country, except those which are 

 the consequences of drunkenness, or of immoderate exercise, 

 more frequently begin with torpor than with orgasm; that is, 

 with inactivity of some parts, or of the whole of the system, and 

 consequent coldness, than with increased activity, and conse- 

 quent heat. 



If the hot fit be the consequence of the cold one, it may be 

 asked if they are proportionate to each other? it is probable that 



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