154 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



and a strong disposition to sleep, are a few of the 

 prominent symptoms which are present. 



CLXX. From the almost universal occur- 

 rence of the propensity to sleep, it has been ima- 

 gined by most physiologists, but with little 

 truth, that the nervous system is individually and 

 directly acted upon by the refrigerating agent. It 

 produces the same effects as a powerful narcotic ; 

 and the following explanation will show why 

 these are not to be attributed to the nervous but 

 sanguiferous system. 



CLXXI. I have already stated, that the ap- 

 plication of cold tends to determine the blood 

 upon the internal organs ; and if this be long 

 continued, or severe, the quantity which is sent 

 from the surface and extremities will be propor- 

 tionate to the causes which operate ; and, in all 

 cases in which sleep is induced, the action of these 

 causes has been incompatible with the proper per- 

 formance of organic functions. The numbness 

 of the extremities, the pale and collapsed state of 

 the body, prove that the internal organs must 

 have received more blood than natural; and, 

 from the principles developed in the first chap- 

 ter, it is obvious that every quantity above what 

 is natural, tends to diminish the stimulating pro- 

 perties of the blood and the force of its circulation. 



CLXXII. The difficulty of breathing, and the 

 pain in the chest, support this opinion. From the 

 first disagreeable operation of cold to the com- 



