SUP. I. 12. 10 THEORY OF FEVER. 485 



mach is owing to defect of the sensorial power of association, 

 which is caused by the too feeble actions of the membranes sur- 

 rounding the diseased tooth, and thus the train of sympathy ceases 

 here without affecting the motions of the heart and arteries; but 

 where contagious matter is swallowed into the stomach, the sto- 

 mach after a time becomes torpid from exhaustion of the sen- 

 sorial power of irritation, and the heart and arteries act feebly 

 from defect of the excitement of the power of association. In 

 the former case the torpor of the stomach is conquered by accu- 

 mulation of the power of association in one or two whole days; 

 in the latter it recovers by accumulation of the power of irrita- 

 tion in three or four weeks. 



In intermittent fevers the stomach is generally I believe af- 

 fected secondarily by sympathy with the torpid cutaneous ca- 

 pillaries, or with some internal torpid viscus, and on this ac- 

 count an accumulation of sensorial power arises in a few hours 

 sufficient to restore the natural irritability of this organ; and 

 hence the hot fit succeeds, and 4he fever intermits. Or if this 

 accumulation of sensorial power becomes excessive and perma- 

 nent, the continued fever with strong pulse is produced, or febris 

 irritative. 



In continued fevers the stomach is frequently I suppose af- 

 fected with torpor by previous excess of stimulus, and conse- 

 quent exhaustion of sensorial power, as when contagious matter 

 isjswallowed with the saliva, and it is then much slower in pro- 

 ducing an accumulation of sensorial power sufficient to restore its 

 healthy irritability; which is a frequent cause of continued fe- 

 ver with weak pulse or febris inirritativa. Which consists, after 

 the cold fit is over, in a more frequent and more feeble action 

 of the heart and arteries, owing to their direct sympathy with 

 the muscular fibres of the torpid stomach; together with an in- 

 creased action of the capillaries, glands, and absorbents of the 

 skin, and cellular membrane, owing to their reverse sympathy 

 with the torpid capillaries, glands, and absorbents of the stomach, 

 or with those of the heart and arteries. 



Or in more accurate language. 1. The febris inirritativa, or 

 fever with weak pulse, commences with torpor of the stomach, 

 occasioned by previous exhaustion of sensorial power of irrita- 

 tion by the stimulus of contagious matter swallowed with the 

 saliva. 2. The whole system becomes torpid from defect of 

 the excitement of the sensorial power of association owing to 

 the too feeble actions of the stomach, this is the cold fit. 3. The 

 whole system, except the stomach with the upper intestines, and 

 the heart and arteries, falls into increased action, or orgasm, 

 owing to accumulation of sensorinl power of association during" 



