370 DISEASES CiAsS IV. 1. \. 3 



of the stomach is increased by direct sympathy with that of the 

 skin; and the tendency to vomit, which was owing to its di- 

 minished action, ceases. 



3. Cessatio cegritudinis cute excitatd. The cure of sickness by 

 stimulating the skin. This is explained in the preceding arti- 

 cle; and further noticed in IV. 2. 2. 4. and in IV. 1. 1. F. 



Similar to these is the effect of a blister on the back in reliev- 

 ing sickness, indigestion, and heart-burn; and, on the contrary, 

 by these symptoms being frequently induced by coldness of the 

 extremities. The blister stimulates the cutaneous vessels into 

 greater action; whence warmth and pain are produced at the 

 same time, and the fibres of the stomach are excited into greater 

 action by their association with those of the skin. It does not 

 appear, that the concomitant pain of the blister causes the in- 

 creased energy of the stomach, because the motions of it are not 

 greater than natural; though it is sometimes difficult to deter- 

 mine, whether the primary part of some associated trains be 

 connected with irritative or sensitive motions. 



In the same manner a flannel shirt, to one who has not been 

 in the habit of wearing one, stimulates the skin by its points, 

 and thus stops vomiting in some cases; and is particularly effi- 

 cacious in checking some chronical diarrhoeas, which are not at- 

 tended with fever; for the absorbents of the skin are thus sti- 

 mulated into greater action, with which those of the intestines 

 consent by direct sympathy. 



This effect cannot be ascribed to the warmth alone of the 

 flannel shirt, as being a covering of loose texture, and confining 

 air in its pores, like a sponge, which air is known to be a bad 

 conductor of heat, since in that case its use should be equally 

 efficacious, if it were worn over a linen shirt; and an increased 

 warmth of the room of the patient would be equally serviceable*. 



4. Digestio aucta frigore cutaneo. Digestion increased by cold- 

 ness of the skin. Every one has experienced the increase of 

 his appetite after walking in the cool air in frosty days; for 

 there is at this time not only a saving of sensorial power by the 

 less exertion of the cutaneous vessels; but, as these consent with 

 those of the stomach and bowels, this saving of sensorial power 

 is transferred by reverse sympathy from the cutaneous capilla- 

 ries and absorbents to those of the stomach and intestines. 



Hence weak people should use the cold air of winter as a cold 

 bath; that is, they should stay in it but a short time at once, 

 but should immerse themselves in it many times a day. 



5. Catarrhusa frigore cutaneo. Catarrh from cold skin. This 

 has been already explained in Class I. 1. 2. 7. and is further 

 described in Sect. XXXV. 1. 3, In this disease the vessels of 



