ON THE INFLUENCE OF CUTANEOUS SECRETIONS. 469 
not to be denied that the experiments of Dr. Fourcault tend, on the 
whole, towards their elucidation. 
These experiments discover the primitive form and almost the 
nature of the alteration the blood undergoes under the influence of 
the cessation of the functions of the skin. They demonstrate that 
under these conditions the regularity of the course of this fluid is 
disturbed — that it has a tendency to accumulate and stagnate within 
the internal visceral organs, witness the abdominal pains so fre- 
quently consequent on the application of plasters upon the skin, 
and the congestions of the abdominal and pulmonary vascular sys- 
tems met with almost always on opening animals who have been 
suffocated through tar or pitch plasters. 
They prove, in fact, the thorough aptitude of impression of the 
nervous system to blood altered in its chemical properties, while 
they afford us an explication of the phenomena of depression, and 
muscular prostration and weakness, which accompanies the be- 
ginning of disease consecutive on the operation of cold. 
But let us pass from generalities to endeavours to establish 
some more direct connexion between the results of the physio- 
logical experiments we have recounted, and the effects which 
make their appearance on the commencement of inflammations 
and other diseases consequent on the action of cold on the skin in 
a state of perspiration. 
As soon as the repercussive influence of this agent has become 
sensible and given rise to general disorder of the organism, the 
visible mucous surfaces are seen to grow injected and to exhibit a 
red violet tint; the animals become dull, affected with general 
tremors; the skin dry, opaque, tight, and the coat pen-feathered; 
the pulsations at the heart energetic and palpitating; the pulse 
strong and bounding ; the respiration tremulous, nervous, irregular 
in its rhythm, and somewhat accelerated; the movements are per- 
formed without energy ; even the walk is vacillating and auto- 
matic ; both food and water are refused, &c. 
There exists nothing in this ensemble of symptoms defined; it is 
disease breeding. And how often do we put a stop to its ulterior 
development through restoring the functions of the skin by mere 
(dry) friction, putting on thick clothing, exposing to exciting fumi- 
gation, applying temporary revulsives in the shape of occasional 
sinapisms, administering diffusible stimuli made warm in drenches, 
trying every means to force the skin, and so tend, by the re- 
establishment of its exhalent functions, to permit the elimination 
of blood saturated with carbonic matters opposed to the absorption 
by it of oxygen 1 
Do we not here perceive, so to express ourselves, the evil enter 
and depart through the skin 1 
VOL. XXIII. S R 
