300 DISEASES SECT. XXXII, 9. 3. 



veflels of the fkin, for the purpofe of fupplying the fluid expend- 

 ed in perfpiration. 



The pulfe becomes ftrong and full, owing to the increafed ir- 

 ritability of the heart and arteries, from the accumulation of fen- 

 forial power during their quiefcence, and to the quicknefs of 

 the return of the blood from the various glands and capillaries. 

 This increafed action of all the fecretory veflels does not occur 

 very fuddenly, nor univerfally at the fame time. The heat feems 

 to begin about the centre, and to be dirTufed from thence irregu- 

 larly to the other parts of the fyftem. This may be owing to 

 the fituacion of the parts which firft became quiefcent and caufed 

 the fever-fit, efpecially when a hardnefs or tumour about the 

 prxcordia can be felt by the hand ; and hence this part, in 

 whatever vifcus it is feated, might be the firft to regain its nat- 

 ural or increafed irritability. 



3. It mud be here rioted, that, by the increafed quantity of 

 heat, and of the impulfe of the blood at the commencement of 

 the hot fiu a great increafe of ftimulus is induced, and is now 

 added to the increafed irritability of the fyftem, which was oc- 

 cafioned by its previous quiefcence. This additional ftimulus 

 cf heat and momentum of the blood augments the violence of 

 the movements of the arterial and glandular fyftem in an in- 

 creafing ratio. Theie violent exertions ftill producing more 

 heat and greater momentum of the moving fluids, till at length 

 the ienforial power becomes wafted by this great ftimulus be- 

 neath its natural quantity, and predifpofes the fyftem to a fec- 

 ond cold fit. 



At length all thefe unnatural exertions fpontaneoufly fubfide 

 with the increafed irritability that produced them ; and which 

 was itfelf produced by the preceding quiefcence, in the fame 

 manner as the eye, on coming from darknefs into day-light, in 

 a little time ceafes to be dazzled and pained, and gradually re- 

 covers its natural degree of irritability. 



4. But if the increafe of irritability, and the confequent in* 

 creafe of the ftimulus of heat and momentum, produce more 

 violent exertions than thofe above defcribed ; great pain arifes 

 in fome part of the moving fyftem, as in the membranes of the 

 brain, pleura, or joints ; and new motions of the veflels are pro- 

 duced in confequence of this pain, which are called inflamma- 

 tion ; or delirium or ftupor arifes , as explained in Seel. XXI. 

 and XXXIII. : for the immediate effed is the fame, whether 

 the great energy of the moving organs arifes from an increaie oi 

 ftimulus or an increafe of irritability j though in the former cafe 

 the wafte of fenforiai power leads to debility, and in the latter 

 to health. 



Recapitulation * 



