THEORY OP FEVEH. Sur. I. 16. 6. 



to cold and damp air. In that case, the link in catenation, that 

 is, the first of the associate train, is rendered torpid by defect of 

 excitement of its usual quantity of the sensorial power of asso- 

 ciation, and from there being no accumulation of the sensorial 

 power of irritation to increase its associability, and thus to con- 

 tribute to actuate it by overbalancing the defect of the excite- 

 ment of its association. 



Thus on riding long and slowly on a cold and damp day, 

 the exhalation of the vapour, which is impinged on the skin, as 

 the traveller proceeds, carries away his warmth faster, than it is 

 generated within the system; and thus the capillaries of the skin 

 have their actions so much impaired after a time, that no accu- 

 mulation of the sensorial power of irritation occurs; and then 

 the stomach, the motions of which are catenated with those of 

 the capillaries, ceases to act from the deficient excitement of the 

 power of association; and indigestion and flatulency succeed, 

 instead of the increased digestion and hunger, which occur, 

 when the cutaneous capillaries are exposed to a less degree of 

 cold, and for a shorter time. In which latter situation the accu- 

 mulation of the sensorial power of irritation increases by its 

 superabundance the associability of the fibres of the stomach, so 

 as to overbalance the defect of the excitement of their associa- 

 tion. , 



6. The stomach is affected secondarily in fevers with strong 

 pulse, as in those with weak pulse it is affected primarily. To 

 illustrate this doctrine, I shall relate the following case of Mr. 



Y . He was a young man rather intemperate in the use 



of wine or beer, and was seized with a cold fit, and with a con- 

 sequent hot one with strong pulse; on examining his hypoehon- 

 drium, an oblong tumour was distinctly felt on the left side of 

 the stomach, which extended six or eight inches downward, and 

 was believed to be a tumour of the spleen, which thus occasioned 

 by its torpor the cold fit and consequent hot fit of fever with 

 strong pulse. This fever continued, though with remissions, 

 for two or three weeks; and the patient repeatedly lost blood, 

 used cathartics with calomel and senna, and had frequent antimo- 

 nial and saline medicines. And after he was much weakened 

 by evacuations, the peruvian bark and small doses of steel re- 

 moved the fever, but the tumour remained many years during the 

 remainder of his life. 



In this case the tumour of the spleen was occasioned by the 

 torpor of the absorbent vessels; while the secerning vessels con- 

 tinued somewhat longer to pour their fluids into the cells of it. 

 Then the inactivity of this viscus affected the whole system with 

 torpor. by the deficient excitement of the sensorial power of 



