ACTION OF COLD APPLICATIONS. 
203 
a rise of temperature is produced by counter-irritation. 
Ellenberger (Lehrbuch cler Allgemeinen Therapie der Haus- 
siiuge thiere), page 307, has by proven that neglecting the 
slight transitory rise of temperature occasioned by the pri¬ 
mary stimulation of the calorifacient centres, and accompan¬ 
ied by contraction of the peripheral vessels, increased car¬ 
diac action with diminished rate of respiratory movement; 
neglecting these, we repeat, which are merely ephemeral, 
the permanent effect is a great reduction of temperature, ow¬ 
ing to the loss of heat from the weakened and dilated vessels, 
and also to the fact that the heat-forming centres become ex¬ 
hausted by over-stimulation. 
This is what happens with extensive counter-irritation, 
and it is remarked by the same authority, (loc. cit.), that 
this effect has only been temporarily interfered with when 
such irritation has occasioned a great deal of movement of 
the animals experimented upon. 
Extensive counter-irritation may, therefore, be regarded 
as an antipyretic agency, but it is doubtful whether it is a 
judicious procedure mainly on account of its general harass¬ 
ing effect upon the patient. 
As heat and cold are employed almost interchangeably in 
the treatment of similiar conditions, it may not be out of 
place to digress a moment to contrast the action of the two. 
Extreme heat and cold are alike in their effect upon ani¬ 
mal tissue, causing paralysis of the vasa motors, passive 
congestion, inflammation, destruction of tissue and death. It 
is also a curious fact that the sensation occasioned bv intense 
heat and cold are similar, for it is reported that the natives 
of India in first handling ice said they could not hold it be¬ 
cause it burned their fingers. Moderate heat locally applied 
has a soothing effect upon the nerves, vessels become dilated, 
tissue metamorphosis is increased, parts are relaxed and soft¬ 
ened, and suppuration and sloughing favored. On more re¬ 
mote parts, heat, as in the application of counter-irritants to 
the chest, causes the intra-thoracic vessels to be reflexedly 
contracted, blood is drawn to the surface of the parietes by 
the mechanical effects of vascular dilatation there ; pain is re¬ 
lieved by some such action as occurs in the use of the twitch, 
