CLASS II. 1. 2. 7. OF SENSATION. 1 73 



have had the happiest effect, and cured the patient in this case, 

 as well as in common peripneumony; it must be repeated two or 

 three evenings, see Class II. 1. 2. 4. as the exacerbation of the 

 fever, and difficult respiration, and delirium, generally increase 

 towards night. 



The stimulus of this small quantity of opium on a patient pre- 

 viously so much debilitated, acts by increasing the exertion of 

 the absorbent vessels, in the same manner as a solution of opium, 

 or any other stimulant, put on art inflamed eye after the vessels 

 are previously emptied by evacuations, stimulates the absorbent 

 system, so as to cause the remaining new vessels to be imme- 

 diately reabsorbed. Which same stimulants would have increas- 

 ed the inflammation, if they had been applied before the evacua- 

 tions. See Class II. 1. 2. 2. Sect. XXXIII. 3. 1. When the 

 sanguiferous system is full of blood, the absorbents cannot act so 

 powerfully, as the progress of their contents is opposed by the 

 previous fulness of the blood-vessels; whence stimulants in that 

 case increase the action of the secerning system more than of the 

 absorbent one; but, after copious evacuation, this resistance to 

 the progress of the absorbed fluids is removed; and when stimu- 

 lants are then applied, they increase the action of the absorbent 

 system more than that of the secerning one. Hence opium given 

 in the commencement of inflammatory diseases destroys the pa- 

 tient; and cures them, if given in very small doses at the end of 

 inflammatory diseases. 



7. Carditis. Inflammation of the heart is attended with un- 

 equal intermitting pulse, palpitation, pain in the middle of the 

 sternum, and constant vomiting. It cannot certainly be distin- 

 guished from peripneumony, and is perhaps always combined 

 with it. 



8. Peritonitis. Inflammation of the peritonaeum is known by 

 pain all over the abdomen, which is increased on erecting the 

 body. It has probably most frequently a rheumatic origin. See 

 Class II. 1.2. 17. 



9. Mesenleritls. Inflammation of the mesentery is attended 

 with pains like cholic, and with curdled or chyle-like stools. It 

 is a very frequent and dangerous disease, as the production of 

 matter more readily takes place in it than in any other viscus. 

 The consequence of which, after a hard labour, is probably the 

 puerperal fever, and in scrofulous habits a fatal purulent fever, 

 or hopeless consumption. 



M. M. Venesection. Warm bath. Emollient clysters. 

 JO. Gastritis. In inflammation of the stomach the pulse is 

 generally soft, probably occasioned by the sickness which attends 



