CLASS I. 1. 5. 9. OF IRRITATION. 49 



A lady after a bruise on her nose by a fall was affected with 

 incessant sneezing, and relieved by snuffing starch up her nostrils. 

 Perpetual sneezings in the measles, and in catarrhs from cold, 

 are owing to the stimulus of the saline part of the mucous effu- 

 sion on the membrane of the nostrils. See Class II. 1. 1. 2. 



9. Pruritus. Itching seems to be a greater degree of titilla- 

 tion, and to be owing to the stimulus of some acrid material, as 

 the matter of the itch; or of the herpes on the scrotum, and 

 about the anus; or from those universal eruptions, which attend 

 some elderly people, who have drunk much vinous spirit. It 

 occurs also, when inflammations are declining, as in the healing 

 of blisters, or in the cure of ophthalmia, as the action of the ves- 

 sels is yet so great as to produce sensation; which, like the titil- 

 lations that occasion laughter, is perpetually changing from plea- 

 sure to pain. 



When the natural efforts of scratching do not relieve the pain 

 of itching, it sometimes increases so as to induce convulsions and 

 madness. As in the furor uterinus, and satyriasis, and in the 

 sphincter ani and scrotum. See Class II. 1. 4. 14. IV. 2. 2. 6. 



M. M. Warm bath. Fomentation. Alcohol externally. 

 Poultice. Oiled silk. Mercurial ointments on smari surfaces 

 at once. See Class II. 1. 4. 12. Solutions of lead on small 

 surfaces at once. 



10. Dolor urens, Smarting follows the edge of a knife in mak- 

 ing a wound, and seems to be owing to the distention of a part 

 of a fibre, till it breaks. A smarting of the skin is liable to af- 

 fect the scars left by herpes or shingles; and the callous parts of 

 the bottoms of the feet; and around the bases of corns on the 

 toes; and frequently extends after sciatica along the outside of 

 the thigh, and of the leg, and part of the foot. All these may 

 be owing to the stimulus of extension, by blood or serum being 

 forced into vessels nearly coalesced. 



M. M. Emplastrum de minio put like a bandage on the part. 

 Warm fomentation. Oil and camphor rubbed on the part. Oil- 

 silk covering. A blister on the part. Ether, or alcohol, suffer- 

 ed to evaporate on the part. 



1 1 . Consternatio. Surprise. As our eyes acquaint us at the 

 same time with less than half of the objects, which surround us, 

 we have learned to confide much in the organ of hearing to warn 

 us of approaching dangers. Hence it happens, that if any sound 

 strikes us, which we cannot immediately account for, our fears 

 are instantly alarmed. Thus in great debility of body, the loud 

 clapping of a door, or the fall of a fire-shovel, produces alarm, 

 and sometimes even convulsions; the same occurs from unex- 

 pected sights, and in the dark from unexpected objects of touch, 



VOL. ii. H 



