SCP 1. 3. 3. THEORY OF FEVER. 453 



times happens to the liver; and these from their tendency to 

 more complete torpor are afterwards liable to give occasion to a 

 return of the cold fit. If the cellular absorbents do not com- 

 pletely recover their activity, a pale and bloated countenance 

 with swelled legs marks their want of action. 



3. As the termination of the cold fit is owing to the accumu- 

 lation of the sensorial power of irritation and of association dur- 

 ing the previous quiescence of the system; and as those parts, 

 which are in perpetual action during health, are more subject 

 to this accumulation during their torpor, or quiescence; one 

 should have imagined, that the heart and arteries would acquire 

 this accumulation of sensorial power sooner or in greater degree 

 than other parts. This indeed so happens, where the pulse is 

 previously strong, as in febris irritativa; or where another sen- 

 sorial power, as that of sensation, is exerted on the arterial sys- 

 tem, as in inflammations. The heart and arteries in these cases 

 soon recover from their torpor, and are exerted with great vio- 

 lence. 



Many other parts of the system subject to perpetual motion 

 in health may rest for a time without much inconvenience 

 to the whole; as when the fingers of some people become cold 

 and pale; and during this complete rest great accumulation of 

 irritability may be produced. But where the heart and arte- 

 ries are previously feeble, they cannot much diminish their 

 actions, and certainly cannot rest entirely, for that would be 

 death; and therefore in this case their accumulation of the sen- 

 sorial power of irritation or of association is slowly produced, 

 and a long fever supervenes in consequence; or sudden death, 

 as frequently happens, terminates the cold fit. 



Whence it appears, that in fevers with weak pulse, if the 

 action of the heart, arteries, and capillaries could be diminished, 

 or stopped for a short time without occasioning the death of the 

 patient, as happens in cold bathing, or to persons apparently 

 drowned, that a great accumulation of the sensorial powers of 

 irritation or of association might soon be produced, and the pulse 

 become stronger, and consequently slower, and the fever cease. 

 Hence cold ablution may be of service in fevers with weak 

 pulse, by preventing the expenditure and producing accumula- 

 tion of the sensorial power of irritation or association. Stupor 

 may be useful on the same account. Could a centrifugal swing 

 be serviceable for this purpose, either by placing the head or the 

 feet in the outward part of the circle, as described in Art. 15, 7. 

 of this supplement 3 



