CLASS II. i. 2. 7, OF SENSATION. 173 



have had the happiefl effefr, and cured the patient in this cafe, 

 as well as in common peripneumony , it mult be repeated t\vo 

 or three evenings, lee Clafs II. I. 2. 4. as the exacerbation of 

 the fever, and difficult refpiration, and delirium, generally in- 

 creafe towards night. 



The ftimulus of this fmall quantity of opium on a patient 

 previoufly fo much debilitated, acts by increafing the exertion of 

 the abforbent veflels, in the fame manner as a folution of opium, 

 or any other ftimulant, pui on an inflamed eye after the veflels 

 are previoufly emptied by evacuations, fhmulates the abforbent 

 fyftem, fo as to caufe the remaining new veflels to be immediate- 

 ly reabforbed. Which fame ftimulants would have increafed 

 the inflammation, if they had been applied before the evacua- 

 tions. See Ciafs II. i. 2. 2. Sea. XXXIII. 3. I. When the 

 fanguiferous fyftem is full of blood, the abforbents cannot act fo 

 powerfully, as the progrefs of their contents is oppofed by the 

 previous f ulnefs of the blood-veflels ; whence ftimulants in that 

 cafe increafe the action of the fecerning fyftem more than of the 

 abforbent one ; but after copious evacuation this refiftance to 

 the progrefs of the abibrbed fluids is removed ; and when ftim- 

 ulants are then applied, they increafe the action of the abforb- 

 ent fyitern more than that of the fecerning one. Hence opium 

 given in the commencement of inflammatory difeafes de- 

 ftroys the patient ; and cures them, if given in very fmall .dofes 

 at the end of inflammatory difeafes. 



7. Carditis. Inflammation of the heart is attended with un- 

 equal intermitting pulfe, palpitation, pain in the middle of the 

 ftornum, and conftant vomiting. It cannot certainly be diltin- 

 guiihed from peripneumony, and is perhaps always combined 

 with it. 



8. Peritonitis. Inflammation of the peritonaeum is known 

 jby pain all over the abdomen, which is increafed on erecting the 

 body. It has probably moft frequently a rheumatic origin. See 

 Clafs II. i. 2. 17. 



9. Mef enteritis. Inflammation of the mefentery is attended 

 with pains lijie colic, and with curdled or chyle-like ftools. It 

 is a very frequent and dangerous difeafe, as the production of 

 matter more readily takes place in it than in any other vifcus. 

 The confequence of which, after a hard labour, is probably the 

 puerperal fever, and in fcrofulous habits a fatal purulent fever, 

 or hopekfs confumption. 



M. M. VenefecHon. Warm bath. Emollient clyfters. 



10. Gaftritis. In inflammation of the ftomach die pulfe is 

 generally foft, probably occafioned by the iicknefi which attends 



it. 



