482 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. I. 12. 4. 



becaufe its ufual quantity of fenforial power is previoufly ex- 

 haufted by the great ftimulus of the foxglove ; and hence it 

 feems probable, that the great accumulation of fenforial power, 

 which now caufes the increafed action of the abforbents, is pro- 

 duced in confequence of the inactivity of the heart and arteries ; 

 which inactivity is induced by deficient excitement of the fen- 

 forial power of aflbciation between thofe organs and- the ftom- 

 ach, and not by any previous exhauftion of their natural quan- 

 tity of fenforial power ; whereas in ileus, where the torpor of 

 the ftomach, and confequent ficknefs, is induced by reverfe 

 fympathy with an inflamed inteftine, that is, by diflevered or 

 defective aflbciation ; the accumulation of fenforial power, 

 which in that difeafe fo violently actuates the cellular, pulmo- 

 nary, and cutaneous abforbents, is apparently produced by the 

 torpor of the ftomach and lacteals, and the confequent accumu- 

 lation of the fenforial power of aflbciation in them owing to 

 their leflened action in ficknefs. 



4. This accounts for the dry Ikin in fevers with weak pulfe, 

 where the ftomach and the heart and arteries are in a torpid 

 ftate, and for the fudden emaciation of the body j becaufe the 

 actions of the cellular and cutaneous abforbents are increafed 

 by reverfe fympathy with thofe of the ftomach, or with thofe of 

 the heart and arteries ; that is by the expenditure of that fenfo- 

 rial power of afibciation, which is accumulated in confequence 

 of the torpor of the ftomach and heart and arteries, or of either 

 of them 5 this alfo explains the fudden abforption of the milk in 

 puerperal fevers ; and contributes along with the heat of the 

 refpired air to the drynefs of the mucous membrane of the 

 tongue and noftrils. 



5. Befides the reverfe fympathy, with which the abforbent 

 veflels of the ftomach and upper inteftines act in refpect to all 

 the ether abforbent veflels, as in the exhibition of digitalis, and 

 in ileus ; there is another reverfe fympathy exifts between the 

 capillaries, or fecretory veflels of the ftomach, and thofe of the 

 fkin. Which may neverthelefs be occafioned by the accumula- 

 tion of fenforial power by the torpor of the heart and arteries, 

 which is induced by direct fympathy with the ftomach ; thus 

 when the torpor of the ftomach remains in a fever-fit, which 

 might otherwife have intermitted, the torpor of the heart and 

 arteries remains alfo by direct fympathy, and the increafed cu- 

 taneous capillary action, and confequent heat, are produced by 

 reverfe fympathy 5 and the fever is thus rendered continual, 

 owing primarily to the torpor of the ftomach. 



6. The reverfe fympathy, which exifts between the capilla- 

 ries of the ftomach and the cutaneous capillaries, appears by the 



chillnefs 



