500 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. I. 16, 3. 



quantity of fenforial power fufficient for the purpofe of renew- 

 ing their own natural quantity of action ; but are neverthelefs 

 not fo torpid, as to have the life of the part impaired. In this 

 iituation the fuperabundance of the accumulated power of irri- 

 tation contributes to actuate the aflbciate motions next catenated 

 with them. Thus, when a perfon breathes air with lefs oxy- 

 gene than natural, as by covering his head in bed, and thus re- 

 fpiring the fame atmofphere repeatedly, the heart and arteries 

 become lefs active by defect of the ftimulus of oxygcne ; and 

 then the accumulation of fenforial power of irritation becomes 

 initantly very great, as thefe urgans are fubject to perpetual and 

 energetic action. This accumulation neverthelefs is not fo great 

 as to renew their own activity under this defect of ftimulus, but 

 yet is in fufficient abundance to increafe the aflbciability of the 

 next link of catenation, that is, to actuate the capillaries of the 

 fkin with great and perpetual increafe of energy. This refem- 

 bles continued fever with weak pulfe ; in which the accumula- 

 tion of the fenforial power caufed by the leflened motions of the 

 heart and arteries, actuates the capillaries with increafe of energy. 

 3. When the accumulation of the feniorial power of aflbci- 

 ation, which is caufed as above explained by deficient excite- 

 ment owing to the leflened quantity of action of the irritative 

 fibrous motions, with which the aflbciate train is catenated, is 

 not in quantity fufficient to renew the natural actions of the firft 

 link of an aflbciate train of motions , it is neverthelefs fre- 

 quently fo abundant as to actuate the next link of the aflbciated 

 train with unnatural energy by increafing its aflbciability ; and 

 that in a ftill greater degree if that fecond link of the aflbciated 

 train was previously in a torpid ftate, that is, had previously ac- 

 quired fome accumulation of the fenforial power of aflbciation. 

 This important circumftance of the animal economy is worthy 

 our moft accurate attention. Thus if the heart and arteries are 

 deprived of their due quantity of the ftimulus of oxygene in the 

 blood, a weak and quick pulfe enfues, with an accumulation of 

 the fenforial power of ir/itation ; next follows an increafe of the 

 action of the capillaries by the fuperabundance of this accumu- 

 lated power of irritation ; but there alfo exifts an accumulation 

 of the power of aflbciation in thefe acting capillaries, which is 

 not now excited by the deficient actions of the heart and arte- 

 ries ; but which by its abundance contributes to actuate the 

 next link of aflbciation, which is the fick ftomach in the cafe 

 related from Sydenham in Clafs IV. i. i. 2. and explained in 

 this Supplement I. 4. And as this fick ftomach was in a pre- 

 vious ftate of torpor, it might at the fame time poflefs an accu- 

 mulation of fome fenforial power, which, if it was of aflbciation, 



would 



