CLASS 1.2.1.18. OF IRRITATION. 6 1 



the whole sanguiferous system, or death. The blue colour of 

 some children's arms or faces in very cold weather is owing in 

 like manner to the torpor of the absorbent terminations of the 

 veins whence the blood is accumulated in them, and sometimes 

 bursts them. See Haemorrhagia venosa, and Suppl. 1. 2. 7. 



In some cases of fever attended with petechiae, Dr. Hall, of 

 Colchester, directed the body to be washed with cold vinegar 

 and water twice a day, with great advantage. The petechiae be- 

 came daily less numerous and less livid, the pulse slower and 

 stronger, with less delirium, and more sleep. He has treated 

 twenty cases in this manner, and not lost one. Medical Re- 

 view, Vol. III. p. 8. 



In these cases not only the application of external cold seems 

 to have been of service, by preventing the unnecessary expendi- 

 ture of animal power; but as the stimulus of vinegar renders 

 the lips pale, when applied externally, and in consequence stimu- 

 lates the terminations of the veins into greater action; it seems 

 also to have contributed to remove the petechiao. 



18. jlneurisma. Aneurism is probably owing to the want of 

 due irritability of a part of the coat of an artery. As living 

 muscles are known to resist diruption more than dead ones, ac- 

 cording to the experiments (I think) of Dr. Langrish, it follows 

 that when a part of the coat of an artery ceases to contract by 

 the stimulus of the blood, that it will soon become distended by 

 the force of it, till it widens into a sack, and at last becomes 

 ruptured. 



M. M. Venesection repeatedly in small quantities. Rest. 

 Diluent, mild nutriment. Daily evacuation by a pill consisting 

 of rhubarb eight grains, and soap four grains. 



It is possible also, that an aneurism may be produced by the 

 resistance to the circulation, and the force of the heart being 

 greater than the sides of the arteries can counterbalance. 



Mr. Gimbernat is said to have cured some cases of aneurism 

 in the popliteal artery by compressing it by means of an adapted 

 machine, consisting of a steel ring above and below the knee, 

 which are joined by a plate, beneath which is placed a proper 

 cushion, which can be pressed on the distended part of the artery 

 more or less by means of a screw. The other method of cure 

 is by a double ligature above the aneurism, as first practised by 

 Mr. J. Hunter. 



19. Varix. The varix of veins occurs frequently in the legs 

 of women, possibly sometimes from tight garters, and has for its 

 proximate cause the inirritability of the coat of the vein; whence 

 it becomes distended, till it bursts, by the power with which the 



