SECT. XII. 7. OF STIMULUS AND EXERTION. 103 



is thrown into fo violent exertion, that inflam- 

 mations and mortifications fupervene, and death 

 clofes the cataftrophe. In many difeafes this 

 method is the moft fuccefsful ; hence the bark in 

 agues produces more certain effect after the pre- 

 vious exhibition of emetics. In difeafes attended 

 with violent pain, opium has double the effecl:, if 

 venefection and a cathartic have been previoufly 

 ufed. On this feems to have been founded the 

 fuccefsful practice of Sydenham, who ufed vene- 

 feclion and a cathartic in chlorofis before the exhi- 

 bition of the bark, iteel, and opiates. 



7. Prevent any unneceffary expenditure offen- 

 forial power. Hence in fevers with debility, a 

 decumbent pofture is preferred, with iilence, lit- 

 tle light, and fuch a quantity ,of heat as may pre- 

 vent any chill fenfation, or any coldnefs of the 

 extremities. The pulfe of patients in fevers with 

 debility increafes in frequency above ten pulfations 

 in a minute on their riling out of bed. For the 

 expenditure of fenforial power to preferve an erect 

 pofture of the body adds to the general deficiency 

 of it, and thus affects the circulation. 



8. The longer in tijne and the greater in degree 

 the quiefcence or inertion of an organ has been, fo 

 that it ftiil retains life or excitability, the lefs fti- 

 mulus mould at firft be applied to it. The quan- 

 tity of ftimulation is a matter of great nicety to de- 

 termine, where the torpor or quiefcence of the 

 fibres has been experienced in a great degree, or 

 for a confiderable time, as in cold fits of the ague, 

 in continued fevers with great debility, or in peo- 

 ple famifhed at fea, or perifhing with cold. In 

 the two laft cafes, very minute quantities of food 

 mould be firft fupplied, and very few additional 

 degrees of heat. In the two former cafes, but lit- 

 tle ftimulus of wine or medicine, above what they 

 had been lately accuftomed to, fliould be exhibited, 



and 



