1 30 DISEASES CLASS I. 2. 5. Id 



In some paralytic affections, and in cold fits of ague, the sensa- 

 tion of touch has been much impaired, and yet that of heat has 

 remained. See Sect. XIV. 6. 



M. M. Friction alone, or with camphorated oil, warm bath. 

 Ether. Volatile alkali and water. Internally, spice, salt. In- 

 citentia. Secernentia. 



10. Stupor. The stupor, which occurs in fevers with debi- 

 lity, is generally esteemed a favourable symptom; which may 

 arise from the less expenditure of sensorial power already existing 

 in the brain and nerves, as mentioned in species 6 of this genus. 

 But if we suppose, that there is a continued production of senso- 

 rial power, or an accumulation of it in the torpid parts of the sys- 

 tem, which is not improbable, because such a production of it 

 continues during sleep, to which stupor is much allied, there is 

 still further reason for believing it to be a favourable symptom in 

 inirritable fevers; and that much injury is often done by blisters 

 and other powerful stimuli to remove the stupor. See Sect. XIL 

 7. 8. and XXXIII. 1. 4. 



Dr. Blane, in his Croonian Lecture on muscular motion, for 

 1788, among many other ingenious observations and deductions, 

 relates a curious experiment on salmon, and other fish, and which 

 he repeated upon eels with similar event. 



" If a fish, immediately upon being taken out of the water, 

 is stunned by a violent blow on the head, or by having the head 

 crushed, the irritability and sweetness of the muscles will be pre- 

 served much longer, than if it had been allowed to die with the 

 organs of sense entire. This is so well known to fishermen ? 

 that they put it in practice, in order to make them longer suscep- 

 tible of the operation called crimping. A salmon is one'of the 

 iish least tenacious of life, insomuch, that it will lose all signs of 

 life in less than half an hour after it is taken out of the water, if 

 suffered to die without any farther injury; but if, immediately af- 

 ter being caught, it receives a violent blow on the head, the 

 muscles will shew visible irritability for more than twelve hour's 

 afterwards." 



Dr. Blane afterwards well remarks, that, " in those disorders 

 in which the exercise of the senses is in a great measure destroy- 

 ed or suspended, as in the hydrocephalus, and apoplectic palsy, 

 it happens, not uncommonly, that the appetite and digestion are 

 better than in health." 



