44* DISBARS OF IRRITATION. SECT. XXXII 9. 



2. As foon as this general quiefcence of the* 

 fyftem. ceafes, either by the diminution of the 

 caufe, or by the accumulation of fenforial power, 

 (as in fyneope, Sect. XII. 7. i.). which is the na- 

 tural confequenee of previous quiefcence, the hot 

 fit commences. Every gland of the body is .now 

 ftimulaied into ftfoflgfcr 6tion than is" natural, as 

 its irritability- is increafed by accumulation of 

 fenforial power during its late quiefcence, a fuper- 

 abu'hdan'ce of all the fecretions is produced, and an 

 increafe of heat hi confequence of the increafe of 

 thefe fec?etio'ns. The fkin becomes red, and the 

 perfpitation great, owing to the increafed action of 

 the capillaries during the hot part of the paroxyfm. 

 The fecretion of perfpirable matter is perhaps great- 

 er during the hot fit than In the fweating fit, which 

 follows; but as the abforpticn of it alfo is greater, 

 it does not ftand on the fkin in vifible dro'ps : add 

 to this, that the evaporation of it is aifo greater, 

 from the increafed heat oF the fkin. But at the 

 decline of the hot fit, as the mouths of the abfor- 

 bents of the fkin are expofed to the cooler air, or 

 bed-clothes, thefe velfels fooner lofe their increafed 

 activity, and ceafe to abforb more than their natural 

 quantity : but the fecerning veffels for fome time 

 longer, being kept warm by the circulating bloody 

 continue to pour out an increafed quantity of per- 

 fpirable matter, which now Hands on the fkin^ in 

 large virible drops ; the exhalation of it alfo being 

 leflened by the greater coolnefs of the fkin, as well 

 as its abforpfion by the dimimfhed action of the 

 lymphatics. See Giafs I. 1. 1. 3. 



The incieafed fecretion of bile and of other flu- 

 ids poured into the inteflines frequently induce a 

 purging at the decline of the hot fit; for as the 

 external abforbent veffels have their mouths ex- 

 pofed to the cold air, as above mentioned, they 

 ceafe to be excited into unnatural activity fooner 



tharj 



