

SUP. I. 16. 6. THEORY OF FEVER, 503 



elation, which contributes along with the irritation caufcd by 

 their fpecific ftimuli to actuate the whole fanguiferous, fecem-* 

 ing, and abforbent veflels ; and along with thei'e the ftomach, 

 which poflefles perhaps greater mobility, or promptitude co tor- 

 por or to orgafm, than any other part. And after a time all thelc 

 parts recover their actions by the accumulation of their fenfori- 

 al power of affociation. But the fpleen not recovering its ac- 

 tion from the accumulation of its power of irritation, as appear- 

 ed from the continuance of the tumour, (till affects the ftomach 

 by its defective irritative motions ceafmg to excite the affocia* 

 tion, which ought to contribute to actuate it. 



Hence the ftomach continues torpid in refpect to its motions, 

 but accumulates its power of aflbciation 5 which is not excited 

 into action by the defective motions of the fpleen ; this accu- 

 mulation of the fenforial power of ailbciation now by its fuper- 

 abundance actuates the next link of affociate motions, which 

 confifts of the heart and arteries, into greater energy of action 

 than natural, and thus caufes fever with ftrong pulie j which, 

 as it was fuppofed to be uioft frequently excited by increafe of 

 irritation, is called irritative fever or fynocha. 



Similar to this in the fmall-pox, which is given by inocula- 

 tion, the ftomach is affected fecondarily, when the fever com- 

 mences $ and hence in this fmall-pox the pulfations of the heart 

 and arteries are frequently ftronger than natural, but never 

 weaker, for the reafons above given. Whereas in that fmall-pox, 

 which is caufed by the ftomach being primarily affected, by the 

 contagious matter being fwallowed with die faliva, whether the 

 tonfils are at the fame time affected or not, the pulfations of the 

 heart and arteries become weak, and the inirritative fever is 

 produced, as explained above, along with the confluent fmall- 

 pox. This unfolds the caufe of the mildnefs of the inoculated 

 fmall-pox 5 becaufe in this difeafe the ftomach is affected fecond- 

 arily, whereas in the natural fmall-pox it is frequently affect* 

 ed primarily by fwallowing the contagious matter mixed with 

 faliva. 



In the meafles I fuppofe the contagious matter to be diffolved 

 in the air, and therefore not liable to be mixed with the faliva ; 

 whereas the variolous matter is probably only diffufed in the air, 

 and thence more readily mixed with the faliva in the mouth dur- 

 ing refpiration. This difference appears more probable, as the 

 fmali-pox I believe is always taken at a lefs diftance from the 

 difeafed perfon than is neceffary to acquire the mealies. The 

 contagion of the meafles affects the membranes of the noftriis, 

 and the fecretion of tears in confequence, but never I fuipect 

 flora ach primarily, but always fecondarily ; whence the pui- 



