S\JP. 1. 2. 5. THEORY OF FEVER. 451 



vomited up, do that of the stomach; this torpor of the stomach 

 is liable to continue after the cold paroxysm ceases, and to con- 

 vert intermittent fevers into continued ones by its direct sympa- 

 thy with the heart and arteries, bee article 10. of this Supple- 

 ment. 



5. If the meninges of the brain sympathize with other torpid 

 parts, or are primarily affected, delirium, stupor, and perhaps, 

 hydrocephalus interims, occur, see Class. II. 1. 7. 1. and 1.2. 5. 

 10.; and sometimes the pulse becomes slow, producing paresis 

 instead of fever. But if the membranes, which cover the mus- 

 cles about the head, or of the pericranium, become torpid by 

 their sympathy with other torpid parts, or are primarily affected, 

 a head-ach supervenes; which, however, generally ceases with 

 the cold paroxysm of fever. For as when the sensorial power 

 of volition is exhausted by labour, a few hours, or half a solar 

 day, passed in sleep recruits the system by accumulation of this 

 sensorial power; so when the sensorial power of irritation is ex- 

 hausted, one or two solar or lunar days of rest or quiescence of 

 the affected part will generally restore its action by accumulation 

 of irritability, and consequent increase of association, as in he- 

 micrania, Class IV. 2. 2. 8. But when the heart and arteries 

 become torpid, either primarily, or by their sympathy with the 

 stomach, this accumulation of the sensorial power of irritation 

 can take place but slowly; as to rest is death! This explains the 

 cause of the duration of fevers with weak pulse, which continue 

 a quarter, or half, or three quarters or a whole lunation, or still 

 longer, before sufficient accumulation of irritability can be pro- 

 duced to restore their natural strength of action. 



6. If the absorbent vessels, which are spread around the neck 

 of the bladder, become torpid by their direct sympathy with the 

 absorbents of the skin in cold fits of fever; the urine, which is 

 poured into the bladder in but small quantity from the torpid 

 kidneys, has nevertheless none of its aqueous saline part reab- 

 sorbed; and this saline part stimulates the bladder to empty it- 

 self frequently, though the urine is in small quantity. Which is 

 not therefore owing to any supposed spasm of the bladder, for 

 the action of it in excluding the urine is weak, and as much con- 

 trollable by the will as in ordinary micturition. 



7. If the beginnings or absorbent mouths of the venous sys- 

 tem remain torpid, petechiae or vibices are produced in fevers, 

 similar to those which are seen in scurvy without fever. If the 

 skin was frequently moistened for an hour, and at the same time 

 exposed to the common air, or to oxygen gas, it might contri- 

 bute to turn the black colour of these points of extravasated 

 blood into scarlet, and thus by increasing its stimulus facilitate 



