Strr. I. 8. 8. THEORY OF FEVER. 467 



associated motions catenated with it; as the capillaries of the 

 lungs become torpid immediately on immersion of the skin into 

 cold water; yet in some situations an orgasm or excess of action 

 is produced in the first link of the associated motions thus cate- 

 nated with irritative ones; as in the increased action of the sto- 

 mach, when the skin is for a time exposed to cold air; which 

 may in part be ascribed to the general increase of action of the 

 whole system, owing to the diminished expenditure of sensorial 

 power, but particularly of the parts, which have habitually acted 

 together; as when one arm is paralytic the other is liable to more 

 frequent or almost continual motion; and when one eye becomes 

 blind the other frequently becomes stronger; which is well known 

 to farriers, who are said sometimes to destroy the sight of one 

 eye to strengthen that of the other in diseased horses. 



Hence there is sometimes a direct sympathy, and sometimes a 

 reverse one succeeds the torpor occasioned by defect of stimulus, 

 the latter of which is perhaps owing to a certain time being re- 

 quired for the production of an accumulation of the sensorial 

 power of irritation by the nervous branches of the torpid organ; 

 which accumulation is now in part or entirely derived to the next 

 link of the association. Thus in going into a coldish bath, as 

 into a river in the summer months, we at first experience a diffi- 

 culty of breathing from the torpid action of the pulmonary capil- 

 laries, owing to the deficient excitement of the sensorial power of 

 association in consequence of the torpor of the cutaneous capil- 

 laries. But in a very short time, as in one minute, the sensorial 

 power of irritation becomes accumulated by the inactivity of the 

 cutaneous capillaries; and as its superabundance becomes now 

 expended on the pulmonary capillaries, the difficult respiration 

 ceases; though the cutaneous capillaries continue torpid by their 

 contact with the cold water, and consequently the sensorial power 

 of association, which used to contribute to actuate the pulmonary 

 capillaries, is less excited. 



8. In like manner when there exists an accumulation of the 

 sensorial power of association, owing to defect of its excitement 

 by some previous irritative or associate motions, it is generally 

 accompanied for a certain time by a torpor not only of the link 

 first affected, but of the subsequent parts, or of the whole train 

 of associated motions, as in the cold fits of intermittent fevers. 

 Yet after a time an increased action of the next links of associat- 

 ed motions succeeds the torpor of the first, as the absorbent ves- 

 sels of the lungs act more violently in consequence of the defi- 

 cient action of those of the stomach; and the skin at the com- 

 mencement of sickness is pale and cold, but in a little time be* 

 comes flushed and warm. 



