262 RETROGRADE SECT. XXIX 6. i. 



reafon to believe, that the fluids were abforbed from the cells of 

 the body by the cellular and cyClic branches of the lymphatics, 

 and poured on the fkin by the retrograde motions of the cuta- 

 neous ones. 



Sydenham has recorded, in the flationary fever of the year 

 1685, the vifcid fweats flowing from the head, which were prob- 

 ably from the fame fource as thofe in the fweating plague above 

 mentioned. 



It is very common in dropfies of the chefl or lungs to have 

 the difficulty of breathing relieved by copious fweats, flowing 

 from the head and neck. Mr. P. about fifty years of age, had 

 for many weeks been afflicled with anafarca of his legs and thighs, 

 attended with difficulty of breathing ; and had repeatedly been 

 relieved by fquill, other bitters, and chalybeates* One night 

 the difficulty of breathing became fo great, that it was thought 

 he mult have expired ; but fo copious a fweat came out of his 

 head and neck, that in a few hours, fome pints, by eftimation, 

 were wiped off from thofe parts, and his breath was for a time 

 relieved. This dyfpncea and thefe fweats recurred at intervals, 

 and after fome weeks he ceafed to exiil. The fkin of his head 

 and neck felt cold to the hand, and appeared pale at the time thefe 

 fweats flowed fo abundantly ; which is a proof, that they were 

 produced by an inverted motion of the abforbents of thofe parts : 

 for fweats, which are the confequence of an increafed alion of 

 the fanguiferous fyftem, are always attended with a warmth of 

 the fkin, greater than is natural, and a more florid colour ; as 

 the fweats from exercife, or thole that fucceed the cold fits of 

 agues. Can any one explain how thefe partial fweats fhould re- 

 lieve the difficulty of breathing in anafarca, but by fuppofing 

 that the pulmonary branch of abforbents drank up the fluid in the 

 cavity in the thorax, or in the cells of the lungs, and threw it on 

 the fkin, by the retrograde motions of the cutaneous branch ? 

 for, if we could fuppoie, that the increafed aclion of the cuta- 

 neous glands or capillaries poured upon the fkin this fluid, pre- 

 vioufly abforbed from the lungs ; why is not the whole furface of 

 the body coveted with fweat ? why is not the fkin warm ? Add 

 to this, that the fweats above mentioned were clammy or gluti- 

 nous, which thecondenfed perfpirable matter is not; whence it 

 would ieem to have been a different fluid from that of common 

 perfpiration. 



Dr. Dobfon of Liverpool, has given a very ingenious expla- 

 nation of the acid fweats, which he obferved in a diabetic patient 

 he thinks part of the chyle is fecreted by the fkin, and after- 

 wards undergoes an acetous fermentation, Can the chyle get 

 thither, but by an inverted motion of the cutaneous lymphatics ? 



in 



