AND ANIMAL LIFE. 345 



mon to imply that the lungs are the only or- 

 gans in a state of venous congestion, or in a con- 

 dition approaching to it: the abdominal visce- 

 ra will also be implicated in the disorders in- 

 duced. 



CCCCX. It is common for the heart to pal- 

 pitate in fear ; and, whenever this happens, it is 

 not from the mind acting directly upon this or- 

 gan ; nor is it to be referred to any mysterious 

 agency of the brain : but is to be attributed sole- 

 ly to those changes in the mode of respiration 

 which determine within the chest an undue 

 quantity of blood, and which being greater than 

 the heart can with facility propel, destroys the 

 regular order of contraction and dilatation, as de- 

 monstrated by the fluttering or irregular action 

 of the heart. The uneasy sensation will continue 

 as long as the cause remains, and of course will 

 cease in proportion as the sanguineous fluid as- 

 sumes its normal distribution; which improve- 

 ment is easily perceived, from the capillary ves- 

 sels of the face, and other external parts of the 

 body, presenting their usual fulness or colour. 



CCCCXI. The coldness which is experienced 

 is not owing to a condition of the nerves arising 

 immediately from the influence of cold, but ori- 

 ginates from the deranged circulation of blood ; 

 and this feeling is present whenever this state is 

 induced, whether by external or internal means. 

 Intermittent fevers, spasmodic asthma, nauseat^ 



