SECT. XXXII, 10. DISEASES OF IRRITATION; 44$ 



In thefe vafcular mufcles, which are fubject to 

 perpetual a&ion, and thence liable to great accumu- 

 lation of fenforial power during their quielcence 

 from want of ftimulus, a great increafe of activity 

 occurs, either from the renewal of their accuitom- 

 ed ilimulus, or even from much lefs quantities of 

 ftimulus than ufual. This increafe of aclion con- 

 ftitutes the hot fit of fever, which is attended with 

 various increafed fecretions, with great concomitant 

 heat, and general uneaiinefs. The uneafinefs attend- 

 ing this hot paroxvfm of fever, or fit of exertion^ 

 is very different from that, which attends the pre- 

 vious cold fit, or fit of quiefcence, and is frequent- 

 ly the caufe of inflammation, as in pleurify, which 

 is treated of in the next fedtion. 



A iimilar effect occurs after the quiefcence of our 

 organs of fenfe ; thofe which are not fubject to per- 

 petual aclion^ as the tafte and fmell, are lefs liable 

 to an exuberant accumulation of fenforial power 

 after their having for a time been ina&ive ; but the 

 eye, which is in perpetual action during the day, 

 becomes dazzled, and liable to inflammation after 

 a temporary quiefcence. 



Where the previous quiefcence has been owing to 

 a defect of fenforial power, and not to a defect of 

 ftimulus, as in the irritative fever with weak pulfe, 

 a Iimilar increafe of adlivity of the arterial fyftenx 

 fucceeds, either from the ufual ftimulus of the blood, 

 or from a ftimulus lefs than ufual ; but as there is 

 in general in thefe cafes of fever with weak pulfe a 

 deficiency of the quantity of the blood, the pulfe in 

 the hot fit is weaker than in health, though it is 

 ftronger than in the cold fit, as explained in No. 2. of 

 this fection. But at the fame time in thofe fevers, 

 where the defect of irritation is owing to the de- 

 fect of the quantity of fenforial power, as well as 

 to the defect of ftimulus, another circumftance oc- 

 curs ; which conlifts in the partial diftribution of it, 



Gg z as 



