474 THEORY OF FEVER. Sur. I. 10. 1. 



of it; not only cooler air might be admitted more freely into a 

 sick room, to counteract this orgasm of the pulmonary capillaries; 

 but perhaps the patient might breathe with advantage a mixture 

 of carbonic acid gas, or of hydrogene gas, or of azote with atmo- 

 spheric air. And, on the contrary, when there exists an evident 

 torpor of the pulmonary capillaries, which may be known by the 

 correspondent chilness of the skin; and by a tickling cough, 

 which sometimes attends cold paroxysms of fever, and is then 

 owing to the deficient absorption of the pulmonary mucus, the 

 saline parts of which stimulate the bronchiae, or air-vessels; a 

 mixture of one part of oxygen gas with 10 or 20 parts of atmo- 

 spheric air, might probably be breathed with great advantage. 



X. Torpor of the Brain. 



As the inactivity or torpor of the absorbent vessels of the brain 

 is the cause of hydrocephalus internus; and as the deficiency of 

 venous absorption in the brain, or torpor of the extremities of its 

 veins, is believed frequently to be the cause of apoplexies; so 

 there is reason to conclude, that the torpor of the secerning ves- 

 sels of the brain, which are supposed to produce the sensorial 

 power, may constitute the immediate cause of some fevers with 

 arterial debility. And also that the increased action of these se- 

 cerning vessels may sometimes constitute the immediate cause of 

 fevers with arterial strength. 



It is nevertheless probable, that the torpor or orgasm of the 

 sanguiferous, absorbent, or secerning vessels of the brain may 

 frequently exist as a secondary effect, owing to their association 

 with other organs, as the stomach or lungs; and may thus be pro- 

 duced like the torpor of the heart and arteries in inirritative 

 fevers, or like the orgasm of those organs in irritative fevers, or . 

 inflammatory ones. 



Where there exists a torpor of the brain, might not veiy slight 

 electric shocks, passed frequently through it in all directions, be 

 used with advantage? Might not fomentations of 94 or 96 de- 

 grees of heat on the head for an hour at a time, and frequently 

 repeated, stimulate the brain into action; as in the revival of 

 winter-sleeping animals by warmth? Ether externally might be 

 frequently applied, and a blister on the shaved head. 



Where the secerning vessels of the brain act with too great 

 energy, as in some inflammatory fevers, might it not be dimi- 

 nished by laying the patient horizontally on a mill-stone, and 

 whirling him till sleep should be produced, as the brain becomes 



