SUP. I. 2. 5. THEORY OF FEVER. 45 * 



vomited up, docs that of the ftomach ; this torpor of the ftom- 

 ach is liable to continue after the cold paroxyfm ceafes, and to 

 convert intermittent fevers into continued ones by its diret 

 fympathy with the heart and arteries. See article 10. of this 

 Supplement. 



5. If the meninges of the brain fympathize with ocher torpid 

 parts, or are primarily affefted, delirium, ftupor, and perhaps 

 hydrocephalus internus, occur, fee Clafs II. 1.7. i. and I. 2. 5. 

 ID ; and fometimes the pulfe becomes flow, producing parefis 

 inftead of fever. But if the membranes, which cover the muf- 

 cles about the head, or of the pericranium, become torpid by 

 their fympathy with other torpid parts, or are primarily affecl:- 

 ed, a head-ach fupervenes ; which however generally ceafes 

 with the cold paroxyfm of fever. For as when the ienforial 

 power of volition is exhaufted by labour, a few hours, or half a 

 folar day, patted in fleep recruits the fyftem by accumulation of 

 this fenforial power ; fo when the fenforial power of irritation is 

 exhaufted, one or two folar or lunar days of reft or quiefcence 

 of the affected part will generally reftore its action by accumu- 

 lation of irritability, and confequent increafe of aflbciation, as in 

 hemicraniaj Clafs IV. 2. 2. 8. But when the heart and arteries 

 become torpid, either primarily, or by their fympathy with the 

 ftomach, this accumulation of the fenforial power of irritation 

 can take place but flowly ; as to reft is death / This explains the 

 caufe of the duration of fevers with weak pulfe, which con- 

 tinue a quarter, or half, or three quarters, or a whole lunation, 

 or {till longer, before fufficient accumulation of irritability can 

 be produced to reftore their natural ftrength of aclion. 



6. If the abforbent veflels, which are fpread around the neck 

 of the bladder, become torpid by their difedfc fympathy with the 

 abforbents of the fldn in cold fits of fever ; the urine, which is 

 poured into the bladder in but fmall quantity from the torpid 

 kidneys, has neverthelefs none of its aqueous faline part reab- 

 forbed j and this faline part itimulates the bladder to empty it- 

 felf frequently, though the urine is in fmall quantity. Which 

 is not therefore owing to any fuppofed fpafm of the bladder, for 

 the action of it in excluding the urine is weak, and as much con- 

 trollable by the will as in ordinary micturition. 



7. If the beginnings or abforbent mouths of the venous fyf- 

 tem remain torpid, petechice or vibices are produced in fevers, 

 fimilar to thofe which are feen in fcurvy without fever. If the 

 ikin was frequently moiitened for an hour, and at the fame 

 time expofed to the common air, or to oxygen gas, it might con- 

 tribute to turn the black colour of theie' points of extravafated 

 blood into icavlet, and thus by increaiing its ftimulus facilitate 



its 



