.06 INVERTENTIA. ART V. 2. i . 2. 



inconceivable. This inverted motion, firft of the abforbents of 

 the ftomach, and afterwards of the ftomach itfelf, feems to orig- 

 inate from the exhauftion or debility, which fucceeds the un- 

 natural degree of action, into which they had been previouily 

 ftimulated An unufual defect of ftimulus, as of food without 

 fpice or wine in the ftomachs of thofe, who have been much 

 accuftomed to fpice or wine, will induce (icknefs of vomiting - 9 

 in this cafe the defective energy of the ftomach is owing to 

 defect of accuftomed ftimulus ; while the action of vomiting 

 from digitalis is owing to a deficiency of fenforial power, which 

 is previoufly exhaufted by theexcefs of its ftimulus. See Sect. 

 XXXV 1.3. and Clafs IV. i. i. 2. 



For firft, no increafe of heat arifesfrom this action of vomit- 

 ing i which always occurs, when the fecerning fyftem is ftimu- 

 lated into action. Secondly, the motions of the abforbent vef- 

 fels are as liable to inverfion as the ftomach itfelf ; which laft, 

 with the oefophagus, may be confidered as the abforbent mouth 

 and belly of that great gland, the inteftinal canal. Thirdly, 

 the clafs of forbentia, as bitters and metallic falts, given in large 

 dofes, become invertentia, and vomit, or purge. And laftly, 

 the ficknefs and vomiting induced by large potarions of wine, 

 or opium, does not occur till next day in fome people, in none 

 till fome time after their ingurgitation. And tincture of digi- 

 talis in the dofe of 30 or 60 drops, though applied in folution, is 

 a confiderable time before it produces its effect 5 though vomiting 

 is inftantaneoufly induced by a nafeous idea, or a naufeoustafte 

 in the mouth. At the fame time there feern to be fome mate- 

 rials whichcan immediately ftimulate the ftomach into fuch pow- 

 erful action, as to be immediately fucceeded by paralyfis of it, 

 and confequent continued fever, or immediate death 5 and this 

 without exciting fenfation, that is, without our perceiving it. 

 Of thefe are the contagious matter of fome fevers fwallo wed 

 with the faliva, and probably a few grains of arfenic taken in fo- 

 lotion. See Suppl. 1.8. 8. Art. IV. 2 6. 9. 



3. Some branches of the lymphatic fyftem become inverted 

 by their fympathy with other branches, which are only ftimu- 

 lated into too violent abforption. Thus, when the ftomach and 

 duodenum are much ftimulated by alcohol, by nitre, or by 

 xvorms, in fome perfons the urinary lymphatics have their mo- 

 tion inverted, and pour that material into the bladder, which is 

 abforbed from the inteftines. Hence the drunken diabetes 

 is produced ; and hence chyle is feen in the urine in worm c^fes. 

 When on the contrary fome branches of the abforbent fyftems 

 have their motions inverted in confequence of the previous ex- 

 hauftion of their fenforial power by any violent ftimulus, other 



branches 



