SECT. XII. 7. 8. AND EXERTION. 71 



In people famifhed at fea, or perifhing with cold. In the two 

 lait cafes, very minute quantities of food fhouid be firft fuppli- 

 cd, and very few additional degrees of heat. In the two form- 

 er cafes, but little ftimulus of wine or medicine, above what 

 they had been lately accuftomed to, ihould be exhibited, and 

 this at frequent and dated intervals, fo that the effeft of one 

 quantity may be obferved before the exhibition of another 



If thefe circumftances are not attended to, as the fenforial 

 power becomes accumulated in the quiefcent fibres, an inordi- 

 nate exertion takes place by the increafe of ftimulus acHng on 

 accumulated quantity of fenforial power, and either the paral- 

 yfis, or death of the contra&ile fibres enfues, from the total ex- 

 penditure of the fenforial power in the affefted organ, owing to 

 this increaie of exertion, like the debility after intoxication. 

 Or, fecondly, the violent exertions above mentioned produce 

 painful fenfation, which becomes a new ftimulus, and by thus 

 producing inflammation, and increafing the adtivity of the fibres 

 already too great, fooner exhaufts the whole of the fenibrial 

 power in the acting organ, and mortification, that is, the death 

 of the part, iupervenes. 



Hence there have been many inftances of people, whofc 

 limbs have been long benumbed by expofure to cold, who have 

 loii them by mortification on their being too haftily brought to 

 the fire ; and of others, who were nearly famiftied at fea, who 

 have died foon after having taken not more than an ufual meal 

 of food. I have heard of two well-attefted inftances of patients 

 in the cold fit of ague, who have died from the exhibition of 

 gin and vinegar, by the inflami aation which enfued. And in 

 many fevers attended with debility, the unlimited ufe of wine, 

 and the wanton application of bliiters, I believe, has deftroyed 

 numbers by the debility confequent to too great ftimulaton, 

 that is, by the exhauftion of the fenforial power by its inordi- 

 nate exertion. 



Wherever the leaft degree of intoxication exifts, a proportion* 

 al debility is the coniequence ; but there is a golden rule by 

 which the neceflary and ufeful quantity of ftimulus in fevers 

 with debility may be afcertained. When wine or beer is ex- 

 hibited either alone or diluted with water, if the pulfe becomes 

 flower the ftimulus is of a proper quantity ; and fhould be re- 

 peated every two or three hours, or when the pulfe again be- 

 comes quicker. 



In the chronical debility brought on by drinking fpirituous or 

 fermented liquors, there is another golden rule by which I have 

 fuccefsfuily directed the quantity of fpirit which they may fafe- 

 ly leflen, for there is no other means by which they can recov- 

 er 



