JO DISEASED CLASS!. 1. 1. 1. 



they are, Vv5ierp*rioTjart is destroyed by the cold fit, as in morti- 

 fication or deaih: \]But we have 119 pleasure to distinguish this, 

 except fi}$ 4i\e t of their duration; whereas the extent of the 

 torpor ibvevQ greater or less part of tl^e system, which occasions 

 the cold fit; t or elf the exevtioh wiich occasions the hot one; as 

 well as the cjqgrjee of such torpor or exertion, are perhaps more 

 material than the time of .'their duration. Besides this, some 

 muscles are less liable to accumulate sensorial power during their 

 torpor, than others, as the locomotive muscles compared with 

 the capillary arteries; on all which accounts a long cold fit may 

 often be followed by a short hot one. 



As the torpor, with which a fit of fever commences, is some- 

 times owing to defect of stimulus, as in going into the cold bath; 

 and sometimes to a previous exhaustion of the sensorial power 

 by the action of some violent stimulus, as after coming out of a 

 hot room into cold air; a longer time must elapse, before there 

 can be a sufficient accumulation of sensorial power to produce a 

 hot fit in one case than in the other. Because in the latter case 

 the quantity of sensorial power previously expended must be 

 supplied, before an accumulation can begin. 



The cold paroxysm commences, when the torpor of a part be- 

 comes so great, and its motions in consequence so slow or feeble, 

 as not to excite the sensorial power of association; which in 

 health contributes to move the rest of the system, which is cate- 

 nated with it. And the hot fit commences by the accumulation of 

 the sensorial power of irritation of the part first affected, either 

 so as to counteract its deficient stimulus, or its previous waste of 

 sensorial power; and it becomes general by the accumulation of 

 the sensorial power of association; which is excited by the reno- 

 vated actions of the part first affected; or becomes so great as to 

 overbalance the deficient excitement of it. On all these accounts 

 the hot fit cannot be supposed to bear any proportion to the cold 

 one in length of time, though the latter may be the consequence 

 of the former. See Suppl. I. 16. 8. 



SPECIES, 



1. Febris Irntalw a. Irritative fever. This is the synocha of 

 some writers, it is attended with strong pulse without inflamma- 

 tion; and in this circumstance differs from the febris inirritativa 

 of Class I. 2. I. 1. which is attended with weak pulse without 

 inflammation. The increased frequency of the pulsation of the 

 heart and arteries constitutes fever; during the cold fit these 

 pulsations are always weak, as the energy of action is then de- 

 creased throughout the whole system; and therefore the general 



