492 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. 1. 13. 



they first stretched them out, but died instantaneously; in a simi- 

 lar manner the lungs seem to be rendered instantly inanimate 

 by the fumes of burning sulphur. 



The lungs may be sometimes primarily affected with conta- 

 gious matter floating in the atmosphere as well as the stomach, 

 as mentioned in article 9. of this Supplement. But probably 

 this may occur much less frequently, because the oxygene of the 

 atmosphere does not appear to be taken into the blood by ani- 

 mal absorption, as the saliva in the stomach, but passes through 

 the moist membranes into the blood, like the ethereal fluids of 

 electricity or heat, or by chemical attraction, and in consequence 

 the contagious matter may be left behind; except it may some- 

 times be absorbed along with the mucus; of which however in 

 this case there appeared no symptoms. 



The tonsils or other organs liable to receive contagious mat- 

 ter, as in the small-pox, scarlet-fever, and in other sensitive in- 

 irritated fevers; but no symptom of this appeared here, as the 

 tonsils were at no time of the fever inflamed, though they were 

 in this child previously uncommonly large. 



The pain of the forehead does not seem to have been of the 

 internal parts of the head, because the nerves, which serve the 

 stomach, are not derived from the anterior part of the brain; 

 but it seems to have been owing to the torpor of the external mem- 

 branes about the forehead from their direct sympathy with those 

 of the stomach; that is, from the deficient excitement of the 

 sensorial power of association; and seemed in some measure to 

 be relieved by the emetics and blisters. 



The pulsations of the heart were weaker and in consequence 

 quicker than natural, owing to their direct sympathy with the 

 torpid peristaltic motions of the stomach; that is, to the deficient 

 excitement of the sensorial power of association. 



The action of the cutaneous capillaries and absorbents was 

 stronger than natural, as appeared by the perpetual heat and 

 drynessof the skin; which was owing to their reverse sympathy 

 with the heart and arteries. This weaker and quicker action of 

 the heart and arteries, and the stronger action of the cutaneous 

 capillaries and absorbents, continued throughout the disease, 

 and may be said to have constituted the fever, of which the tor- 

 por of the stomach was the remote cause. 



His tongue was not very much furred or very dry, nor his 

 breath very hot; which shewed, that there was no great increase 

 of the action of the mucous absorbents, nor of the pulmonary 

 capillaries, and yet sufficient to produce great emaciation, His 

 urine was nearly natural both in quantity and colour; which 



