SUP. I. i& 10. THEORY OF FEVER. 509 



capillaries ceafe to act with too great energy, and the fever is 

 cured. 



Thirdly. If the heart and arteries could be themfelves ftim- 

 ulated into greater action, although the ftomach remained tor- 

 pid, they might probably by expending a greater quantity of the 

 fenforial power of irritation, prevent an accumulation of the 

 fenforial power of aflbciation, (for thefe may poifibly be only 

 different modes of action of the fpirit of animation,) and thus 

 the too great action of the capillaries might be prevented and 

 the fever ceafe. This new mode of cure might poffibly be ac- 

 complifhed, if the patient was to breathe a gallon or two of pure 

 or diluted oxygene gas frequently in a day ; which by pafiing 

 through the moid membranes of the lungs and uniting with the 

 blood might render it more ftimulant, and thus excite the heart 

 and arteries into greater action. 



Fourthly. Greater energy might probably be given to the 

 whole fyftem, and particularly to thofe parts which a6t too fee- 

 bly in fevers, as the ftomach and the heart and arteries, if the 

 action of the fecerning veflels of the brain could be increafed in 

 energy ; this is probably one effect of all thofe drugs, which 

 when given in large quantity induce intoxication, as wine and 

 opium. And when given with great caution in fmall quanti- 

 ties uniformly repeated, as from three drops to five of the tinc- 

 ture of opium, but not more, every fix hours, I believe they fup- 

 ply an efficacious medicine in fevers with great arterial debility ; 

 and the more fo, if the Peruvian bark be exhibited alternately 

 every fix hours along with them. There are other means of ex- 

 citing the veflels of the brain into action ; as firft by decreafing 

 the ftimulus of heat by temporary cold fomentation ; fecondly, 

 increafmg the itimulus of heat by long continued warm fomen- 

 tation , thirdly, by electricity, as very fmall (hocks pafled through 

 it in all directions , and laftly by blifters on the head. All thofe 

 require to be ufcd with great caution, and efpecially where there 

 exifts an evident ftupor, as the removing of that is I believe fre- 

 quently injurious. See ftupor, Clafs I. 2. 5. 10. 



The cure of fever with ftrong pulfe confifts in the repeated 

 ufe of venefection, gentle cathartics, diluents ; medicines pro- 

 ducing ficknefs, as antimonials, digitalis ; or the refpiration of 

 carbonated hydrogen ; or by refpiration of at mo fpheric air low- 

 ered by a mixture of hydrogen, azote, or carbonic acid gas, or 

 by compreffing the brain by whirling in a decumbent pofture, 

 as if lying acrofs a horizontal mill-ftone. See the former part? 

 of this fupplement for the methods of cure both of fevers with 

 itrong and weak pulfe. 



10. When any difficulty occurs in determining the weak 



