GLASS II. i. 3. 2. OF SENSATION. 189 



When the external ikin is the feat of inflammation, and pro- 

 duces fenfitive irritated fever, no collection of matter is formed, 

 as when a phlegmon is fituated in the cellular membrane beneath, 

 the fkin 5 but the cuticle rifes as beneath a blifter-plafter, and 

 becomes ruptured ; and a yellow material oozes out, and be- 

 comes infpifiated, and lies upon its fur face ; as is feen in this 

 kind of eryfipelas, and in the confluent f mall-pox ; or if the new 

 vefleis are reabforbed the cuticle peels off in fcales. This differ- 

 ence of the termination of eryfipelatous and phlegmonic inflam- 

 mation feems to be owing in part to the lefs diftenfibility of the 

 cuticle than of the cellular membrane, and in part to the ready 

 exhalation of the thinner parts of the fecreted fluids through its 

 pores. 



This eryfipelas is generally preceded by a fever for two or 

 three days before the eruption, which is liable to appear in fome 

 places, as it declines in others ; and feems frequently to arifc 

 from a previous fcratch or injury of the fkin ; and is attended 

 ibmetimes with inflammation of the cellular membrane beneath 

 the fkin ; whence a real phlegmon and collection of matter be- 

 come joined to the eryfipelas, and either occafion or increafe 

 the irritated fever, which attends it. 



There is a greater fympathy between the external fkin and 

 the meninges of the brain, than between the cellular membrane 

 and thofe meninges , whence eryfipelas is more liable to be pre- 

 ceded, or attended, or fucceeded, by delirium than internal 

 phlegmons. I except the mumps, or parotitis, defcribed below ; 

 which is properly an external gland, as its excretory duel: opens 

 into the air. When pain of the head or delirium precedes the 

 cutaneous eruption of the face, there is fome reafon to believe, 

 that the primary difeafe is a torpor of the meninges of the brain ; 

 and that the fucceeding violent aftion is transferred to the fkin 

 of the face by fenfitive affociation ; and that a fimilar fympathy 

 occurs between fome internal membranes and the Ikin over them, 

 when eryfipelas appears on other parts of the body. If this cir- 

 cumftance mould be fupported by further evidence, this difeafe 

 fhould be removed into Clafs IV. along with the rheumatilin 

 and gout. See Clafs IV. 1.2. 17. 



This fuppofed retropulfion of eryfipelas on the brain from 

 the frequent appearance of delirium, has prevented the free ule 

 of the lancet early in this difeafe to the deftruftion of m.iny; 

 as it has prevented the fubduing of the general nfiamm^ 

 and thus has in the end produced the particular one on the 

 brain. Mr. B , a delicate gentleman about fixty, Ir.id an ery- 

 fipelas beginning near one ear, and extending by degrees over 

 the whole head, with hard, full, and itrongpuilc ; blood was ta- 

 ken 



