Sc*. I. 8. 6, THEORY OF FEVER. 465 



ciated motions are for a time actuated with less energy, and a 

 temporary general chilness succeeds; which is so far similar to 

 the cold fit of intermittent fever. 



In this situation there is a curious circumstance occurs, which 

 merits peculiar attention: after a short time, though the exter- 

 nal skin continues cool by its exposure to the cold air, and the 

 actions of its capillaries are consequently diminished, yet the ca- 

 pillaries of the stomach act with greater energy; as is known 

 by increased digestion and consequent hunger. This is to be 

 ascribed to the accumulation of the sensorial power of irritation, 

 which now excites by its superabundance, or overflowing, as it 

 were, the stomach into increased action; though it is at the same 

 time excited less powerfully than usual by the sensorial power of 

 association. Thus the accumulation of the sensorial power of 

 irritation in the vessels of the skin increases in this case the ac- 

 tion of the stomach in the same manner as an accumulation of 

 the sensorial power of association in the heart and arteries in 

 fevers with weak pulse increases the action of the capillaries. 



If, nevertheless, the coldness of the skin be too long continued, 

 or exists in too great a degree, so as in some measure to impair 

 the life of the part, no further accumulation of the sensorial 

 power of irritation occurs; and in consequence the actions of 

 the stomach become less than natural by the defect of the sen- 

 sorial power of association; which has ceased to be excited by 

 the want of action of the cutaneous capillaries. Whence continued 

 coldness of the feet is accompanied with indigestion and heart- 

 burn. See Class IV. 2. I. 6. 



6. Similar to this when the actions of the stomach are ren-* 

 dered torpid by the previous stimulus of a violent emetic, and 

 its motions become retrograde in consequence, a great quantity 

 of sensorial power is exerted on the lymphatics of the lungs, 

 and other parts of the body; which excites them into greater 

 direct action, as is evinced by the exhibition of digitalis in ana- 

 sarca. In this situation I suppose the emetic drug stimulates the 

 muscular fibres of the stomach into too great action; and that 

 in consequence a great torpor soon succeeds; and that this in- 

 action of the muscular parts of the stomach is not followed by 

 much accumulation of the sensorial power of irritation; be^ 

 cause that sensorial power is in great measure exhausted by the 

 previous excessive stimulus. But the lymphatics of the stomach 

 have their actions lessened by defect of the sensorial power of asso- 

 ciation, which is not now excited into action, owing to the less- 

 ened motions of the muscular parts of it, with which the lym- 

 phatics are associated. The sensorial power of association be- 

 comes therefore accumulated in these lymphatics of the stomach, 



VOL. IT. 3 o 



