404 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP, I. 8. 



and coldness of the skin, and also by the pain of coldness 

 which attends it. There is nevertheless in most cases, except 

 those which are owing to exposure to external cold, a torpor of 

 the capillaries of some internal viscus preceding this inactivity 

 of the cutaneous capillaries; which is known by the tumour or 

 hardness of the viscus, or by an aching pain of it. The capilla- 

 ries of the lungs are at the same time rendered inactive or tor- 

 pid, as appears by the difficulty of breathing, and coldness of 

 the breath in cold fits of fever, and in going into the cold bath; 

 but the lungs are not affected with the pain either of coldness or 

 of torpor. 



One cause of this synchronous or successive inactivity of the 

 cutaneous capillaries, in consequence of the previous torpor of 

 some internal viscus, may be owing to the deficiency of heat; 

 which must occur when any part becomes inactive; because 

 the secretions of that part cease or are lessened, and the quantity 

 of heat of it in consequence. But the principal cause of it I 

 suppose to be owing to the defect of the sensorial power of as- 

 sociation; which power of association is excited by some pre- 

 vious or concomitant motions of the parts of every great circle 

 of actions. This appears on going into the cold bath, because 

 the shortness of breath instantly occurs 3 sooner than one can con- 

 ceive the diminution of the heat of the skin could affect the lungs 

 by the want of its stimulus; but not sooner than the defect of the 

 sensorial power of association could affect them; because this 

 must cease to be excited into action on the instant that the cu- 

 taneous capillaries cease to act; whence in the first moment of 

 contact of the cold water the cutaneous capillaries cease to act 

 from defect of irritation ; which is caused by defect of the stimu- 

 lus of heat; and in the second moment the capillaries of the lungs 

 cease to act from the defect of association; which is caused by . 

 the defect of the motions of the cutaneous capillaries. Thus the 

 universal torpor in the cold paroxysm of fever is an example of 

 direct sympathy, though occasioned in part by defect of irritation, 

 and in part by defect of association. 



5. Thus in walking out in a frosty morning the skin is cooled 

 by the contact of the cold air, whence the actions of its capil- 

 laries are diminished for want of their usual stimulus of heat to 

 excite a sufficient quantity of the sensorial power of irritation. 

 Hence there is at first a saving of the sensorial power of irrita- 

 tion for the purpose of actuating the other parts of the system 

 with greater energy. Secondly, the sensorial power of associa- 

 tion, which used to be excited by the niotions of the cutaneous 

 capillaries, is now not so powerfully excited; and in consequence 

 the parts, which constitute the next links of the circles of asso- 



