SUF. I. 8. i. THEORY OF FEVER. 481 



tates the renovation of the torpor of the whole iyftem, and gives 

 caufe to intermittent fevers catenated with lunar or folar influ- 

 ence. 



VIII. Orgafm of the Capillaries. 



As the remaining torpor of fome lefs effential part of tke fyf- 

 tem, as of the fpleen, when the hot fit ceafes, produces after 

 one, two, or three days a return of cold fit by direct fympathy 

 with the cutaneous capillaries, when joined with fome other 

 caufe of torpor, as the defedt of foiar or lunar influences, or the 

 expofure to cold or hunger, and thus gives origin to intermit- 

 tent fever ; fo the remaining torpor of fome more eifential parts 

 of the fyftern, as of the itomach and inteltines, is probably the 

 caufe of the immediate recurrence of the cold paroxyfm, at the 

 time the hot one ceafes, by their direct fympathy with the cu- 

 taneous capillaries, without the ailiftance of any other caufe of 

 torpor ; and thus produces remittent fever. And laflly the re- 

 maining torpor of fome dill more efiential parts of the fyftem, 

 as die heart and arteries, after the hot fit ought to ceafr, is lia- 

 ble by reverfe fympathy with the cutaneous capillaries to con- 

 tinue their orgafm, and thus to render a fever continual, which 

 would otherwife remit or intermit. 



Many difficulties here -occur, which we fliall endeavour to 

 throw fome light upon, and leave to future investigation ; ob- 

 ferving only that difficulties were to be expe&ed, otherwife fe- 

 vers would long fince have been understood, as they have em- 

 ployed the unremitted attention of the phyficians of all ages of 

 the world. 



i. Why do the fame parts of fucceflive trains of action fome- 

 times affect each other by direcl:, and fometimes by reverfe fym- 

 pathy ? i ft, When any irritative motion ceafes, or becomes 

 torpid, which was before in perpetuaJ action ; it is either de- 

 prived of its ufuul ftimulus, and thence the fenforial power of 

 irritation is not excited ; or it has been previoufly too much ftim- 

 uiated, and the fenforial power has been thus exhaufted. 



In the former cafe an accumulation of fenforial power foon 

 ' occurs, which is excitable by a renewal of the ftimulus ; as whert 

 the fingers, which have been immerfed fome time in inow, are 

 again expofed to the ufual warmth of a room. Or, fecondly, the 

 fenforial power of irritation becomes fo much accumulated, that 

 the motions, which were torpid, are now performed by idi 

 ftimulus than natural ; as appears by the warmth, which loon- 

 occurs after the firft chill in going into frofly air, or into the 

 bath at Buxton, which is about eighty degrees of heat. Or,- 



laftly, 



