506 THEORY OF FEVER. SUP. I. 16. 8. 



the preparations of mercury cure venereal ulcers ; as a quarter 

 of a grain of fublimate diflblved in wine, and given thrice a 

 day ; this effect feems to be produced either by its ftimulating 

 the abforbents in the ulcer to abforb the venereal matter before 

 it has acquired oxygene ; or by afterwards uniting with it chem- 

 ically, and again depriving it of its acquired acidity. On either 

 fuppofition it might probably be given with advantage in fmail- 

 pox, and in all infectious difeafes, both previous to their com- 

 mencement, and during their whole progrefs. 



8. The cold fits of intermittent fevers are caufed by the tor- 

 por of fome part owing to deficient irritation, and of the other 

 parts of the fyftem from deficient afibciation. The hot fits are 

 owing firft to the accumulation of irritation in the part prima- 

 rily affected, if it recovers its action, which does not always hap- 

 pen ; and fecondly to the accumulation of aflbciation in the oth- 

 er parts of the fyitem, which during health are fubjedt to per- 

 petual action ; and laftly alfo to the greater excitement of the 

 power of affociation, when the part primarily affected recovers 

 its irritability, and acts with greater energy than natural. 



The deficient fecretions in the cold fit depend on the torpor 

 of the glandular fyftem ; and the increafed fecretions in the hot 

 fit on their more energetic action. The thirft in the cold fit is 

 owing to the deficient abforptioa from the (kin, cellular mem- 

 brane, and bladder j the thirft in the hot fit is owing to the too 

 great diffipation of the aqueous part of the blood. The urine 

 is pale and in fmall quantity in the cold fit from deficient fecre- 

 tion of it, and from deficient abforption of its aqueous parts ; it 

 is high coloured, and fometimes depofits a fediment, in the hot 

 fit from the greater fecretion of it in the kidneys, and the great- 

 er abforption of its aqueous and faline part in the bladder. The 

 drynefs and fcurf on the tongue arid noftrils are owing to the 

 increafed heat of the air expired from the lungs, and confequent 

 greater evaporation of the aqueous part of the mucus. The 

 fweats appear in confequence of the declenfion of the hot fit, 

 owing to the abforbent veffels of the fkin lofing their increafed 

 action fooner than the fecerning ones , and to the evaporation 

 leffening as the fkin becomes colder. The returns of the par- 

 oxyfms are principally owing to the torpor of fome lefs effential 

 part of the fyftem remaining after the termination of the laft fit ; 

 and are alfo dependent on folar or lunar diurnal periods. 



The torpor of the part, which induces the cold paroxyfm, is 

 owing to deficient irritation occafioned either by the fubduction 

 of the natural ftimuli of food, or water, or pure air, or by de- 

 ficiency of external influences, as of heat, or of folar or lunar 

 gravitation. Or fecondly, in confequence of the exhauftion of 



fenforia! 



