500 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. I. 16. & 



the preparations of mercury cure venereal ulcers; as a quarter 

 of a grain of sublimate dissolved in wine, and given thrice a 

 day; this effect seems to be produced either by its stimulating 

 the absorbents in the ulcer to absorb the venereal matter before 

 it has acquired oxygene; or by afterwards uniting with it che- 

 mically, and again depriving it of its acquired acidity. On 

 either supposition it might probably be given with advantage in 

 small-pox, and in all infectious diseases, both previous to their 

 commencement, and during their whole progress* 



8. The cold fits of intermittent fevers are caused by the tor- 

 por of some part owing to deficient irritation, and of the other 

 parts of the system from deficient association. The hot fits are 

 owing first to the accumulation of irritation in the part primarily 

 affected, if it recovers its action, which does not always happen; 

 and secondly to. the accumulation nf association in the other parts 

 of the system, which during health are subject to perpetual action; 

 and lastly also to the greater excitement of the power of associa- 

 tion, when the part primarily affected recovers its irritability, and 

 acts with greater energy than natural. 



The deficient secretions in the cold fit depend on the torpor of 

 the glandular system; and the increased secretions in the hot fit 

 on their more energetic action. The thirst in the cold fit is owing 

 to the deficient absorption from the skin, cellular membrane, and 

 bladder; the thirst in the hot fit is owing to the too great dissipation 

 of the aqueous part of the blood. The urine is pale and in small 

 quantity in the cold fit from deficient secretion of it, and from 

 deficient absorption of its aqueous parts; it is high coloured, 

 and sometimes deposites a sediment, in the hot fit, from the 

 greater secretion of it in the kidneys, and the greater absorp- 

 tion of its aqueous and saline part in the bladder. The dryness 

 and scurf on the tongue and nostrils are owing to the increased 

 heat of the air expired from the lungs, and consequent greater 

 evaporation of the aqueous part of the mucus. The sweats ap- 

 pear in consequence of the declension of the hot fit, owing to the 

 absorbent vessels of the skin losing their increased action sooner 

 than the secerning ones; and to the evaporation lessening as the 

 skin becomes colder. The returns of the paroxysms are princi- 

 pally owing to the torpor of some less essential part of the sys- 

 tem remaining after the termination of the last fit; and are also 

 dependent on solar or lunar diurnal periods. 



The torpor of the part which induces the cold paroxysm, is 

 owing to the deficient irritation occasioned either by the subduc- 

 tion of the natural stimuli of food, or water, or pure air, or by de- 

 ficiency of external influences, as of heat, or of solar or lunar 

 gravitation. Or secondly, in consequence of the exhaustion of 



