SECT. XXXI. i. OF TEMPERAMENTS. 



temperament of the fyftem ihould be meant a per- 

 manent predifpofition to certain clafles of clifeafes : 

 without this definition a temporary predifpofition 

 to every diftinct malady might be termed a tempe- 

 rament. There are four kinds of constitution, 

 which permanently deviate from good health, aqd 

 are perhaps fufficiently marked to be diftinguimed 

 from each other, and conflitute the temperaments 

 or predifpolitions to the irritative, fenfitive, volun- 

 tary, and alfociate claffes of difeafes. 



I. The Temperament of decreased Irritability. 



THE difeafes which are caufed by irritation, molt 

 frequently originate from the defeclofit; for thofe 

 which are immediately owing to the excefs of it, as 

 the hot fits of fever, are generally occafioned by an 

 accumulation of fenforial power in confequence of 

 a previous defect of irritation, as in the preceding 

 cold fits of fever. Whereas the difeafes, which are 

 caufed by fenfation and volition, moil frequently 

 originate from the excefs of thofe cenforial powers, 

 as will be explained below. 



The temperament of decreafed irritability appears 

 from the following circumftances, which fhew that 

 the mufcular fibres or organs 6f fenfe are liable to 

 become torpid or quiefcent from lefs defect of fti- 

 mulation than is productive of torpor or quiefcence 

 in oiher conftitutions. 



I. The firft is the weak pulfe, which in fome 

 conftitutions is at the fame time quick. 2. The 

 next mofh marked criterion of this temperament is 

 the largenefs of the aperture of the iris, or pupil 

 of the eye, which has been reckoned by fome a 

 beautiful feature in the female countenance, as an 

 indication of delicacy, but to an experienced ob- 

 ferver it is an indication of debility, and is there- 

 fore 



