78 OF STIMULUS AND EXERTION. SECT. XII. 2. 



thefe is called by Dr. Brown, in his Elements of 

 Medicine, direct debility, and the latter indirect de- 

 bility. The coincidence of fome parts of this work 

 with correfpondent deductions in the Brunonian 

 Elementa Medicinee, a work (with fome exceptions) 

 of great genius, muft be confidered as confirmati- 

 ons of the truth of the theory, as they were pro- 

 bably arrived at by different trains of reafoning. 



Thus in thofe who have been expofed to cold 

 and hunger there is a deficiency of ftimulus. While 

 in nervous fever there is a deficiency of fenforial 

 power. And in habitual drunkards, in a morning 

 before their ufual potation, there is a deficiency 

 both of ftimulus and of fenforial power. While, on 

 the other hand, in the beginning of intoxication 

 there is an excefs of ftimulus ; in the hot-ach, after 

 the hands have been immerfed in mow, there is a 

 redundancy of fenforial power ; and in inflamma- 

 tory difeafes with arterial ftrength, there is an ex- 

 cefs of both. 



Hence if the fenforial power be leffened, while 

 the quantity of ftimulus remains the fame as in 

 nervous fever, the frequency of repetition of the 

 arterial contractions may continue, but their force 

 in refpect to removing obftacles, as in promoting 

 the circulation of the blood, or the velocity of each 

 contraction, will be diminifhed, that is, the animal 

 ftrength will be leffened. And fecondly, if the 

 quantity of fenforial power be leffened, and the fti- 

 mulus be increafed to a certain degree, as in giving 

 opium in nervous fevers, the arterial contractions 

 may be performed more frequently than natural, 

 yet with lefs ftrength. 



And thirdly, if the fenforial power continues the 

 fame in refpect to quantity, and the ftimulus be 

 fomewhat diminifhed, as in going into a darkifh 

 room, or into a coldifli bath, fuppofe of about 

 eighty degrees of heat, as Buxton-bath, a tempo- 

 rary 



