508 THEORY OF FEVER. Strp. I. 16. 9. 



affected primarily by previous exhaustion of its irritability by sti- 

 mulus, as of contagious matter swallowed into it. The heart and 

 arteries act feebly from deficient excitement of the power of as- 

 sociation, owing to the torpor of the stomach, with which they 

 are catenated; but the accumulation of the power of association, 

 thus produced in organs subject to perpetual and energetic mo- 

 tion, is so great, as to affect the next link of the associate train; 

 which consists of the capillaries of the skin or other glands; these 

 therefore are exerted perpetually with great increase of action. 



The continued fevers with strong pulse terminate by the re- 

 duction or exhaustion of the sensorial power by violent action of 

 the whole system; which is followed either by return of health 

 with the natural quantity of irritability, and of associabi- 

 lity, or by a total destruction of them both, and consequent 

 death. 



In continued fevers with weak pulse the stomach remains 

 torpid during the whole course of the fever; and at length by 

 the recovery of its irritability and sensibility effects the cure of 

 it. Which generally happens about the first, second, or third 

 quarter of the lunar period, counted from the commencement 

 of the disease, or continues a whole lunation, and sometimes 

 more; which gave rise to what are termed critical days. See 

 Sect. XXXVI. 4. on this subject. If the stomach does not re- 

 cover from its torpor, the patient becomes emaciated, and dies 

 exhausted by the continuance of the increased action of the ca- 

 pillaries and absorbents, and the want of nourishment. 



The cure of continued fever with weak pulse consists first in 

 weakening the undue action of the capillaries of the skin by ab- 

 lution with cold water from 32 to 80 degrees of heat; or by ex- 

 posing them to cool air. Secondly, by invigorating the actions 

 of the stomach, by decreasing them for a time, and thence ac~- 

 cumulating the power of irritation, as by an emetic, or by iced 

 water, or iced wine. Or by increase of stimulus, as by bark, 

 wine, opium, and food, in small quantities frequently repeated. 

 Or by* renewing the action of the stomach by slight electric 

 shocks. Or by fomenting it frequently with water heated to 96 

 or 100 degrees. Or lastly, by exciting its power of association 

 with other parts of the system, as by a blister; which succeeds 

 best when the extremities are cool; or by swinging, as in vertigo 

 rotate ri a. 



If by the stimulus of the Peruvian bark on the fibres of the 

 stomach, they regain their due action, the heart and arteries also 

 regain their due action; as their sensorial power of association 

 is now excited, and expended as usual. And as there is then 

 HO accumulation of sensorial power in the heart and arteries, the 



