CLASS II. i. 3. C. OF SENSATION. % 197 



torn of this difeafe, and is occafioned by the pain or forenefs 

 M'hich attends the tliickened and inflamed membranes of the 

 larynx ; which prevents the mufcles of vocality from fufficienr- 

 ly contracting the aperture of it. It ceafes with the inflamma- 

 tion, or may be relieved by the fteam of warm water alone, or 

 of water and vinegar, or of water and ether. See Paralytic 

 Hoarfenefs, Clafs III. 2. 1.4. 



6. Catarrkus contagicfus. This malady attacks fo many at the 

 fame time, and fpreads gradually over fo great an extent of coun- 

 try, that there can be no doubt but that it is difieminated by the 

 atmofphere. In the year 1 782 the fun was for many weeks ob- 

 fcured by a dry fog, and appeared red as through a common mitt. 

 The material, which thus rendered the air muddy, probably cauf- 

 ed the epidemic catarrh, which prevailed in that year, and which 

 began far in the north, and extended itfelf over all Europe. See 

 Botanic Garden, Vol. II. note on Chunda, and Vol. I. Canto IV. 

 line 294, note ; and was fuppofed to have been throws out of.a 

 volcano, which much difplaced the country of Iceland. 



In many inftances there was reafon to believe that this difeafe 

 became contagious, as well as epidemic ; that is, that one perfon 

 might receive it from another, as well as by the general unfalu- 

 tary influence of the atmofphere. This is difficult to compre- 

 hend, but may be conceived by confidering the increafe of conta- 

 gious matter in the fmall-pox. In that difeafe one particular of 

 contagious matter flimulates the fkin of the arm in inoculation 

 into morbid action fo as to produce a thoufand particles fimilar 

 to itfelf; the fame thing occurs in catarrh, a few deleterious 

 atoms ftimulate the mucous membrane of thenoftrils into mor- 

 bid actions, which produce a thoufand other particles fimilar to 

 themfelves. Thefe contagious particles difFufed in the air muft 

 have confided of animal matter, otherwife how could an animal 

 body by being ftimulated by t].~m produce fimilar particles ? 

 Could they then have had a volcanic origin, or muft they not rath- 

 er have been blown from putrid marfhes full of animal matter ? 

 But the greateft part of the folid earth has been made from ani- 

 mal and vegetable recrements, which may be difperfed by volca- 

 noes. Future difcoveries muftanfwer thefe queftions. 



As the fenfitive fever attending thefe epidemic catarrhs is fel- 

 dom either much irritated or inirritated, venefection is not al- 

 ways either clearly indicated or forbidden ; but as thofe who 

 have died of thefe catarrhs have generally had inflamed livers, 

 with con fequent fuppuration in them, venefection is adviiable, 

 wherever the cough and fever are greater than common, fo as to 

 render the ufe of the lancet in the lead dubious. And in fome 

 cafes a fecond bleeding was necefiary, and a miid cathartic or two 



with 

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 V 



