Medicine, 273 



creased, as well as the morbidly diminished actions 

 of the introductory link o^^ a circle of associate mo- 

 tions are followed by similar actions of the other 

 links; at other times, by contrary actions: In the 

 former case there is direct, in the latter, reverse 

 sympathy. The morbidly diminished actions aris- 

 ing from siibduction of stimuli are sooner relieved 

 than such as are occasioned by want of sensorial 

 power. The morbidly increased actions which 

 arise from excess of sensorial power are more vio- 

 lent than those which are produced by excess of 

 stimuli. Hence inflammatory diseases are common- 

 ly preceded by subduction of stimuli, and conse- 

 quent accumulation of sensorial power. But when 

 excess of sensorial power is acted upon by excess 

 of stimuli, the exertion which follows is far greater 

 and more destructive. Hence the mortification 

 of frozen limbs when brought near the fire. 



According to Dr. Darwin, all those parts which 

 are subjected, during health, to perpetual action, as 

 the heart and arteries, accumulate sensorial power 

 faster when impeded, than those which are sub- 

 jected only to intermitted action. When stimuli, 

 which are usually applied to any particular part of 

 the system, are withdrawn, an accumulation of sen- 

 sorial power takes place there, proportioned to the 

 subduction of those stimuli and to the state of that 

 part. 



The exertion of any part of the system. Dr. 

 Darwin believes, may be proper, or greater, or 

 smaller than it ought to be. AH diseases, there- 

 fore, originate in the exuberance, deficiency, or 

 retrograde action, of the faculties of the sensorium, 

 as their proximate cause; and consist in the dis- 

 ordered motions of the fibres of the body, as the 

 proximate effect of the exertions of those dis- 

 ordered faculties. Hence, in conformity with the 

 principles before mentioned, health, inflamma- 



iN 



