318 OF THE SALIVA AND TEARS. SECT. 



The inflammation of a part is generally preceded 

 by a torpor or quiefcence of it; if this exifts in any 

 large congeries of glands, as in the liver, or any 

 membranous paTt, as the ftomach, pain is produced 

 and chiilinefs in confequence of the torpor of the 

 vefiels. In this fituation fometimes an inflammation 

 of the parts fucceeds the torpor ; at other times a 

 diftant more fenfible part becomes inflamed ; whofe 

 actions have previoufly been affociated with it ; and 

 the torpor of the firft part ceafes. This I apprehend 

 happens, when the gout of the foot fucceeds a pain 

 f the biliary duet, or of the ftomach. Laftly, it 

 fometimes happens, that the pain of torpor exifts 

 without any confequent inflammation of the affected 

 part, or of 'any diftant part aflbciated with it, as in 

 the membranes about the temple and eye-brows in 

 hemicrania, and in tfrofe pains, which occafion con- 

 vulfions ; if this happens to gouty people, when k 

 affects the liver, I fuppofe epileptic fits are produced ; 

 and, when it affects the ftomach, death is the COTJ- 

 fequence. In rhefe cafes the pulfe is weak, and the 

 extremities cold, and fuch medicines as ftimulate 

 the quiefcent parts into action, or which induce in'- 

 flammation in them, or in any diftant parr, which 

 is aflbciated with them, cures the prefent pain of 

 torpor, and faves the patient. 



I have twice feen a gouty inflammation of the 

 liver, attended with jaundice ; the patients after a 

 few days were both of them affected with cold fits; 

 like ague-fits, and their feet became affected with 

 gout, and the inflammation of their livers cealed. 

 It is probable, that the uneafy fenfations about the 

 ftomach, and indigeftion which precedes gouty 

 paroxyfms, are generally owing to torpor or flight 

 inflammation of the liver, and biliary ducts ; but 

 where great pain with continued ficknefs, wirh 

 fssbls pulfe, and fea r aticn of cold, affect rhe 



ftomaeihi 



