452 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. I. 2. 8. 



its reabforption ? For oxygen gas penetrates moift animal mem- 

 branes though not df y ones, as in the lungs during refpiration. 

 See Clafs I. 2. i. 17. 



8. When the fenforial ppwer of fenfation is introduced into 

 the arteriaj fyflem, other kinds of compound fevers are produc- 

 ed, which will be fpoken of in their place. 



III. Termination of the cold pit. 



1 . If all the parts, which were affe&ed with torpor, regain 

 their irritability, ard ailoc lability, the cold paroxyfm of fever 

 ceafes i but as fome or the parts affe -ted were previouily accuf- 

 tomed to inceffant action, as the heart and arteries, and others 

 only to intermitted action, as the ftomach and inteftines ; and 

 as thofe, which are fubj^ctsd during health to perpetual action, 

 accumulate ienforial pt-wer falter, when their motions are im- 

 peded, than thole which are iubje&ed to intermitted adrion -, it 

 happens, that fome of the parts, which were affected with tor- 

 por caring the coid fit, recover their irritability or aflbciability 

 iboner than others, and more perfectly, or acquire a greater 

 quantity of them than natural ; as appears by the partial heat 

 and fiumings previous to the 6 e,ieral hot fit. 



Hence if all the parts, whioh were previouily torpid, regain 

 their due degree of irritability, or of aflbciability, the difeafe is 

 removed, arid health reftored. If fome or all of them acquire 

 more than their natural degree of thefe fenforial powers ; in- 

 creafed- actions, and confequent increafed fecretions, and greater 

 heat occur, and conftitute the hoc fit of fever. If after this hot 

 fit of fever all the parts, which had acquired too great irritabili- 

 ty, or affectability, regain their natural degree of it , the dif- 

 eafe is removed, and health reftored. But if fome of thefe parts 

 do not regain their natural degree of thefe fenforial powers, the 

 actions of thofe p^rts remain imperfecl:, and are more or lefs 

 injurious to the fyftem, according to the importance of their 

 functions. 



2. Thus if a torpor of the heart and arteries remains ; the 

 quick pulfe without ftrength, which began in the cold fit, per- 

 iifts j and a continued fever is produced. If the torpor of the 

 ftomach and inteftines remains, which is known by ficknefs and 

 un-iigefted itools, the fever is liable to be of confiderable length 

 and danger ; the fame if the kidneys and abforbent fyftem re- 

 tain fome degree of torpor, as is (hewn by the pale urine in not 

 unufual quantity. If part of the abforbent fyftem remains tor- 

 pid, as the abfcibent vefTels of the fpleen, a tumour of that vif- 

 cus occurs, which may be felt by the hand ; the fame fome- 



times 



