718 VICISSITUDES OF TEMPERATURE. 



When the lungs have become adapted to the 

 temperature of summer, they do not suddenly ac- 

 commodate their action to that of freezing water. 

 Hence it is, that all rapid transitions from heat 

 to cold, and from cold to heat, are unfavourable 

 to health ; that when the natives of the higher 

 latitudes are removed to hot climates, they gene- 

 rate caloric by respiration faster than it is carried 

 off, and are therefore liable to fever, which should 

 be prevented by a cooling diet of fruits and vege- 

 tables, frequent cold ablutions, or by bathing in 

 cold water seven times a day, if necessary, until 

 the body is reduced to the natural standard, or to 

 the point of actual comfort. On the other hand, 

 when the natives of hot climates are removed 

 to the higher latitudes owing to the smallness of 

 their lungs, they do not obtain caloric by respira- 

 tion so rapidly as it is wasted, which renders 

 them liable to diseases of the lungs, rheumatism, 

 and other inflammatory affections. 



Corresponding with what has been said of the 



poses to fever and other tropical diseases. (Laws of Organic Life, 

 and Principles of Medicine.) From which it would appear, that 

 both of these intelligent physiologists imagine, that an increase 

 of respiration and generation of animal heat are essential to the 

 existence of fever. But I have proved that the proportion of red 

 globules in the blood depends on the amount of respiration, which 

 is always diminished by an elevated temperature. Nor does 

 fever depend on the quantity of caloric obtained by respiration, 

 but on a deranged condition of the blood, by which it is prevented 

 from passing to, and combining with, the solids. 



