SECT. XXXII. 3. DISEASES OF IRRITATION. 425 



mufcles and organs of fenfe 1 confume in a week ; 

 and all this without any fenfible fatigue ! Now, it" 

 but a part of thele vital motions are impeded, or 

 totally flopped but for a fhort time, we gain an idea, 

 that there muft be a great accumulation of fenfo- 

 rial power; as its production in thefe organs, which 

 are fubjecl to perpetual activity, is continued during 

 their quiefcence, and is in confequence accumu- 

 lated. 



While, on the contrary, where thofe vital organs 

 aft too forcibly by increafe of iUmulus without a 

 proportionally-increafed production of fenforial pow- 

 er in the brain, it is evident, that a great deficiency 

 of action, that is torpor, muft foon follow, as in 

 fevers ; whereas the locomotive mufcles, which act 

 only by intervals, are neither liable to fo great ac- 

 cumulation of fenforial power during their times of 

 inactivity, nor to fo great an exhauftion of it during 

 their times of action. 



Thus, on going into a very cold bath, fuppofe at 

 33 degrees oi heat on Fahrenheit's fcale, the action 

 of the fubcutaneous capillaries, or glands, and of 

 the mouths of the cutaneous abforbents is diminifh- 

 ed, or ceafes for a time. Hence lefs or no blood 

 paries thefe capillaries, and palenefs fucceeds. But 

 foon after emerging from the bath, a more florid 

 colour and a greater degree of heat is generated 

 on the fkin than was pofferTed before immerfion ; 

 for the capillary glands, after this quiefcent Hate, 

 occafioned by the want of ftimulus, become more 

 irritable than ufual to their natural ftimuli, owing 

 to the accumulation of fenforial power, and hence 

 a greater quantity of blood is tranfmitted through 

 them, and a greater fecretion of perfpirable mat- 

 ter ; and, in confequence, a greater degree of heat 

 fucceeds. During the continuance in cold water 

 the breath is cold, and the act of refpiration quick 

 and laborious ; which have generally been afcribed 



to 



