346 DISEASES CLASS HI. 2. 1. 17. 



muscles or organs of sense at a proper distance from each other; 

 yet paralysis, properly so called, is the consequence of exhaus- 

 tion of sensoriai power by exertion. And that the accumulations 

 of it during the torpor of the cutaneous vessels by exposure to 

 cold, or of some internal viscus in the cold fits of agues, are fre- 

 quently instrumental in recovering the use of paralytic limbs, or 

 of the motions of other paralytic parts of the system. See Spec. 

 4. of this genus. 



Animal bodies resist the power of cold probably by their ex- 

 ertions in consequence of the pain of cold, see Botan. Gard, V. 

 1. additional note xii. But if these increased exertions be too 

 violent, so as to exhaust the sensoriai power in producing un- 

 necessary motions, the animal will probably sooner perish. Thus 

 a moderate quantity of wine or spirit repealed at proper inter- 

 vals of time might be of service to those, who are long exposed 

 to excessive cold, both by increasing the action of the capillary 

 vessels, and thus producing heat, and perhaps by increasing in 

 some degree the secretion of sensoriai power in the brain. But 

 the contrary must happen when taken immoderately, and not 

 at due intervals. A well-attested history was once related to 

 me of two men, who set out on foot to travel in the snow, one 

 of whom drank two or three glasses of brandy before they began 

 their journey, the other contented himself with his usual diet 

 and potation; the former of whom perished in spite of any as- 

 sistance his companion could afford him; and the other perform- 

 ed his journey with safety. In this case the sensoriai power was 

 exhausted by the unnecessary motions of incipient intoxication 

 by the stimulus of the brandy, as well as by the exertions of 

 walking; which so weakened the dram-drinker, that the cold 

 sooner destroyed him; that is, he had not power to produce suf- 

 ficient muscular or arterial action, and in consequence sufficient, 

 heat, to supply the great expenditure of it. Hence the capilla- 

 ries of the skin first ceased to act, and became pale and empty; 

 next those which are immediately associated with them, as the 

 extremities of the pulmonary artery, as happens on going into 

 the cold bath. By the continued inaction of these parts of the 

 vascular system the blood becomes accumulated in the internal 

 arteries, and the brain is supposed to be affected by its compres- 

 sion; because these patients are said to sleep, or to become apo- 

 plectic, before they die. I overtook a fisherman asleep on his 

 panniers on a very cold frosty night, but on waking him he did 

 not appear to be in any degree of stupor. See Class I. 2.2.1. 



When travellers are benighted in deep snow,.they might fre- 

 quently be saved by covering themselves in it, except a small 

 aperture for air; in which situation the lives of hares, sheep. 



