SHOT. XXXIII. 4. DISEASES OF SENSATION. 473 



five days, an inflammation of the fkin commences 

 in points ; which generally firft appear upon the 

 face, as the aflbciated addons between the fkin of 

 the face and that of the ftomach have been more 

 frequently exerted together than thofe of any other 

 parts of the external furface. 



Contagious matters, as thofe of the meafles and 

 fmall-pox, do not ad upon the fyftem at the fame 

 time ; but the progrefs of that which was laft re- 

 ceived is delayed, till the a&ion of the former in- 

 fedion ceafes. All kinds of matter, even that from 

 common ulcers, are probably contagious the firfl 

 time they are inferted beneath the cuticle or fwal- 

 lowed into the ftomach ; that is, as they were form- 

 ed by certain morbid actions of the extremities of 

 the veflels, they have the power to excite fimilar 

 morbid actions in the extremities of other veflels, 

 to which they are applied ; and thefe by fympathy, 

 or affociafions of motion, excite fimilar morbid ac- 

 tions in diftant parts of the fyflem, without entering 

 the circulation - 9 and hence the blood of a patient 

 in the {mall-pox will not give that difeafeby inocu- 

 lation to others. 



When the new fibres or veflels become again ab- 

 forbed into the circulation, the inflammation ceafes ; 

 which is promoted, after fufficient evacuations, by 

 external flimuiants and bandages: but where the 

 aclion of the veflels is very great, a mortification of 

 the part is liable to enfue, owing to the exhaufiioiji 

 of fenforial power ; which however occurs in weak 

 people without much pain., and without very violent 

 previous inflammation ; and, like partial paralyfis, 

 may be efteemed one mode of natural death of old 

 people, a part dying before the whole. 



SECT. 



