2i6 OF THE SALIVA, &c. SECT. XXIV. 2. 8. 



by ajficiations are frequently more energetic than the original motions^ 

 by which they were occaftoned. Which we fhall have occafion to 

 mention hereafter, to illuftrate, why pains frequently exift in a 

 part diftant from the caufe of them, as in the other end of the 

 urethra, when a (tone ftimulates the neck of the bladder. And 

 why inflamations frequently arife in parts diftant from their 

 caufe, as the gutta rofea of drinking people, from an inflamed 

 liver. 



The inflammation of a part is generally preceded by a torpor 

 or quiefcence of it ; if this exifts in any larger congeries of glands, 

 as in the liver, or any membranous part, as the ftomach, pain 

 is produced and chillinefs in confequence of the torpor of the 

 vefiels. In this fituation fometimes an inflammation of the parts 

 fucceeds the torpor ; at other times a diftant more fenfible part be- 

 comes inflamed ; whofe actions have previoufly been affbciated 

 with it : and the torpor of the firft part ceafes. This I appre- 

 hend happens, when the gout of the foot fucceeds a pain of the 

 biliary duel:, or of the ftomach. Laftly, it fometimes happens, 

 that the pain of torpor exifts without any confequent inflamma- 

 tion of the affected part, or of any diftant part aflbciated with it, 

 as in the membranes about the temple and eye-brows in hemi- 

 crania, and in thofe pains which occafion convulfions \ if this 

 happens to gouty people, when it affects the liver, I fuppofe epi- 

 leptic fits are produced ; and, when it affects the ftomach, death 

 is the confequence. In thefe cafes the pulfe is weak, and the 

 extremities cold, and fuch medicines as ftimulate the quiefcent 

 parts into action, or which induce inflammation in them, or in 

 any diftant part, which is aflbciated with them, cures the pref- 

 cnt pain of torpor, and faves the patient. 



I have twice feen a gouty inflammation of the liver, attended 

 with jaundice ; the patients after a few days were both of them 

 affected with cold fits, like ague fits, and their feet became af- 

 fected with gout, and the inflammation of their livers ceafed. 

 It is probable, that the uneafy fenfations about the ftomach, and 

 indigeftion, which precedes gouty paroxyfms, are generally ow- 

 ing to torpor or flight inflammation of the liver, and biliary 

 ducts ; but where great pain with continued ficknefs, with feeble 

 pulfe, and fenfation of cold, affect the ftomach in patients debil- 

 itated by the gout, that it is a torpor of the ftomach itfelf, and 

 deftroys the patient from the great connexion of that vifcus with 

 the vital organs. See Sect. XXV. 17. 



SECT. 



