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Zoonomia/II.III.II.I

ORDO II.

Decreased Volition.

GENUS I.

With decreased Actions of the Muscles.

Our muscles become fatigued by long contraction, and cease for a time to be excitable by the will; owing to exhaustion of the sensorial power, which resides in them. After a short interval of relaxation the muscle regains its power of voluntary contraction; which is probably occasioned by a new supply of the spirit of animation. In weaker people these contractions cease sooner, and therefore recur more frequently, and are attended with shorter intervals of relaxation, as exemplified in the quickness of the pulse in fevers with debility, and in the tremors of the hands of aged or feeble people.

After a common degree of exhaustion of the sensorial power in a muscle, it becomes again gradually restored by the rest of the muscle; and even accumulated in those muscles, which are most frequently used; as in those which constitute the capillaries of the skin after having been rendered torpid by cold. But in those muscles, which are generally obedient to volition, as those of locomotion, though their usual quantity of sensorial power is restored by their quiescence, or in sleep (for sleep affects these parts of the system only), yet but little accumulation of it succeeds. And this want of accumulation of the sensorial power in these muscles, which are chiefly subservient to volition, explains to us one cause of their greater tendency to paralytic affection.

It must be observed, that those parts of the system, which have been for a time quiescent from want of stimulus, as the vessels of the skin, when exposed to cold, acquire an accumulation of sensorial power during their inactivity; but this does not happen at all, or in much less quantity, from their quiescence after great expenditure of sensorial power by a previous excessive stimulus, as after intoxication. In this case the muscles or organs of sense gradually acquire their natural quantity of sensorial power, as after sleep; but not an accumulation or superabundance of it. And by frequent repetitions of exhaustion by great stimulus, these vessels cease to acquire their whole natural quantity of sensorial power; as in the schirrous stomach, and schirrous liver, occasioned by the great and frequent stimulus of vinous spirit; which may properly be termed irritative paralysis of those parts of the system.

In the same manner in common palsies the inaction of the paralytic muscle seems not to be owing to defect of the stimulus of the will, but to exhaustion of sensorial power. Whence it frequently follows great exertion, as in Sect. XXXIV. 1. 7. Thus some parts of the system may cease to obey the will, as in common paralysis; others may cease to be obedient to sensation, as in the impotency of age; others to irritation, as in schirrous viscera; and others to association, as in impediment of speech; yet though all these may become inexcitable, or dead, in respect to that kind of stimulus, which has previously exhausted them, whether of volition, or sensation, or irritation, or association, they may still in many cases be excited by the others.

SPECIES.

1. Lassitudo. Fatigue or weariness after much voluntary exertion. From the too great expenditure of sensorial power the muscles are with difficulty brought again into voluntary contraction; and seem to require a greater quantity or energy of volition for this purpose. At the same time they still remain obedient to the stimulus of agreeable sensation, as appears in tired dancers finding a renovation of their aptitude to motion on the acquisition of an agreeable partner; or from a tired child riding on a gold-headed cane, as in Sect. XXXIV. 2. 6. These muscles are likewise still obedient to the sensorial power of association, because the motions, when thus excited, are performed in their designed directions, and are not broken into variety of gesticulation, as in St. Vitus's dance.

A lassitude likewise frequently occurs with yawning at the beginning of ague-fits; where the production of sensorial power in the brain is less than its expenditure. For in this case the torpor may either originate in the brain, or the torpor of some distant parts of the system may by sympathy affect the brain, though in a less proportionate degree than the parts primarily affected.

2. Vacillatio senilis. Some elderly people acquire a see-saw motion of their bodies from one side to the other, as they sit, like the oscillation of a pendulum. By these motions the muscles, which preserve the perpendicularity of the body, are alternately quiescent, and exerted; and are thus less liable to fatigue or exhaustion. This therefore resembles the tremors of old people above mentioned, and not those spasmodic movements of the face or limbs, which are called tricks, described in Class IV. 1. 3. 2. which originate from excess of sensorial power, or from efforts to relieve disagreeable sensation, and are afterwards continued by habit.

3. Tremor senilis. Tremor of old age consists of a perpetual trembling of the hands, or of the head, or of other muscles, when they are exerted; and is erroneously called paralytic; and seems owing to the small quantity of animal power residing in the muscular fibres. These tremors only exist when the affected muscles are excited into action, as in lifting a glass to the mouth, or in writing, or in keeping the body upright; and cease again, when no voluntary exertion is attempted, as in lying down. Hence these tremors evidently originate from the too quick exhaustion of the lessened quantity of the spirit of animation. So many people tremble from fear or anger, when too great a part of the sensorial power is exerted on the organs of sense, so as to deprive the muscles, which support the body erect, of their due quantity.

4. Brachiorum paralysis. A numbness of the arms is a frequent symptom in hydrops thoracis, as explained in Class I. 2. 3. 14. and in Sect. XXIX. 5. 2.; it also accompanies the asthma dolorificum, Class III. 1. 1. 11. and is owing probably to the same cause in both. In the colica saturnina a paralysis affects the wrists, as appears on the patient extending his arm horizontally with the palm downwards, and is often attended with a tumor on the carpal or metacarpal bones. See Class IV. 1. 2. 10.

Mr. M——, a miner and well-sinker, about three years ago, lost the power of contracting both his thumbs; the balls or muscles of the thumbs are much emaciated, and remain paralytic. He ascribes his disease to immersing his hands too long in cold water in the execution of his business. He says his hands had frequently been much benumbed before, so that he could not without difficulty clench them; but that they recovered their motion, as soon as they began to glow, after he had dried and covered them.

In this case there existed two injurious circumstances of different kinds; one the violent and continued action of the muscles, which destroys by exhausting the sensorial power; and the other, the application of cold, which destroys by defect of stimulus. The cold seems to have contributed to the paralysis by its long application, as well as the continued exertion; but as during the torpor occasioned by the exposure to cold, if the degree of it be not so great as to extinguish life, the sensorial power becomes accumulated; there is reason to believe, that the exposing a paralytic limb to the cold for a certain time, as by covering it with snow or iced water for a few minutes, and then covering it with warm flannel, and this frequently repeated, might, by accumulation of sensorial power, contribute to restore it to a state of voluntary excitability. As this accumulation of sensorial power, and consequent glow, seems, in the present case, several times to have contributed to restore the numbness or inability of those muscles, which at length became paralytic. See Class I. 2. 3. 21.

M. M. Ether externally. Friction. Saline warm bath. Electricity.

5. Raucedo paralytica. Paralytic hoarseness consists in the almost total loss of voice, which sometimes continues for months, or even years, and is occasioned by inability or paralysis of the recurrent nerves, which serve the muscles of vocality, by opening or closing the larynx. The voice generally returns suddenly, even so as to alarm the patient. A young lady, who had many months been affected with almost a total loss of voice, and had in vain tried variety of advice, recovered her voice in an instant, on some alarm as she was dancing at an assembly. Was this owing to a greater exertion of volition than usual? like the dumb young man, the son of Crœsus, who is related to have cried out, when he saw his father's life endangered by the sword of his enemy, and to have continued to speak ever afterwards. Two young ladies in this complaint seemed to be cured by electric shocks passed through the larynx every day for a fortnight. See Raucedo catarrhalis, Class II. 1. 3. 5.

M. M. An emetic. Electric shocks. Mustard-seed, a large spoonful swallowed whole, or a little bruised, every morning. Valerian. Burnt sponge. Blisters on each side of the larynx. Sea-bathing. A gargle of decoction of seneca. Friction. Frequent endeavours to shout and sing.

6. Vesicæ urinariæ paralysis. Paralysis of the bladder is frequently a symptom in inirritative fever; in this case the patient makes no water for a day or two; and the tumor of the bladder distended with urine may be seen by the shape of the abdomen, as if girt by a cord below the navel, or distinguished by the hand. Many patients in this situation make no complaint, and suffer great injury by the inattention of their attendants; the water must be drawn off once or twice a day by means of a catheter, and the region of the bladder gently pressed by the hand, whilst the patient be kept in a sitting or erect posture. Take here an addition

M. M. Bark. Wine. Opium, a quarter of a grain every six hours. Balsam of copaiva or of Peru. Tincture of cantharides 20 drops twice a day, or repeated small blisters.

7. Recti paralysis. Palsy of the rectum. The rectum intestinum, like the urinary bladder in the preceding article, possesses voluntary power of motion; though these volitions are at times uncontrollable by the will, when the acrimony of the contained feces, or their bulk, stimulate it to a greater degree. Hence it happens, that this part is liable to lose its voluntary power by paralysis, but is still liable to be stimulated into action by the contained feces. This frequently occurs in fevers, and is a bad sign as a symptom of general debility; and it is the sensibility of the muscular fibres of this and of the urinary bladder remaining, after the voluntarity has ceased, which occasions these two reservoirs so soon to regain, as the fever ceases, their obedience to volition; because the paralysis is thus shewn to be less complete in those cases than in common hemiplegia; as in the latter the sense of touch, though perhaps not the sense of pain, is generally destroyed in the paralytic limb.

M. M. A sponge introduced within the sphincter ani to prevent the constant discharge, which should have a string put through it, by which it may be retracted.

8. Paresis voluntaria. Indolence; or inaptitude to voluntary action. This debility of the exertion of voluntary efforts prevents the accomplishment of all great events in life. It often originates from a mistaken education, in which pleasure or flattery is made the immediate motive of action, and not future advantage; or what is termed duty. This observation is of great value to those, who attend to the education of their own children. I have seen one or two young married ladies of fortune, who perpetually became uneasy, and believed themselves ill, a week after their arrival in the country, and continued so uniformly during their stay; yet on their return to London or Bath immediately lost all their complaints, and this repeatedly; which I was led to ascribe to their being in their infancy surrounded with menial attendants, who had flattered them into the exertions they then used. And that in their riper years, they became torpid for want of this stimulus, and could not amuse themselves by any voluntary employment; but required ever after, either to be amused by other people, or to be flattered into activity. This I suppose, in the other sex, to have supplied one source of ennui and suicide.

9. Catalepsis is sometimes used for fixed spasmodic contractions or tetanus, as described in Sect. XXXIV. 1. 5. and in Class III. 1. 1. 13. but is properly simply an inaptitude to muscular motion, the limbs remaining in any attitude in which they are placed. One patient, whom I saw in this situation, had taken much mercury, and appeared universally torpid. He sat in a chair in any posture he was put, and held a glass to his mouth for many minutes without attempting to drink, or withdrawing his hand. He never spoke, and it was at first necessary to compel him to drink broth; he recovered in a few weeks without relapse.

10. Hemiplegia. Palsy of one side consists in the total disobedience of the affected muscles to the power of volition. As the voluntary motions are not perpetually exerted, there is little sensorial power accumulated during their quiescence, whence they are less liable to recover from torpor, and are thus more frequently left paralytic, or disobedient to the power of volition, though they are sometimes still alive to painful sensation, as to the prick of a pin, and to heat; also to irritation, as in stretching and yawning; or to electric shocks. Where the paralysis is complete the patient seems gradually to learn to use his limbs over again by repeated efforts, as in infancy; and, as time is required for this purpose, it becomes difficult to know, whether the cure is owing to the effect of medicines, or to the repeated efforts of the voluntary power.

The dispute, whether the nerves decussate or cross each other before they leave the cavities of the skull or spine, seems to be decided in the affirmative by comparative anatomy; as the optic nerves of some fish have been shewn evidently to cross each other; as seen by Haller, Elem. Physiol. t. v. p. 349. Hence the application of blisters, or of ether, or of warm fomentations, should be on the side of the head opposite to that of the affected muscles. This subject should nevertheless be nicely determined, before any one should trepan for the hydrocephalus internus, when the disease is shewn to exist only on one side of the brain, by a squinting affecting but one eye; as proposed in Class I. 2. 5. 4. Dr. Sommering has shewn, that a true decussation of the optic nerves in the human subject actually exists, Elem. of Physiology by Blumenbach, translated by C. Caldwell, Philadelphia. This further appears probable from the oblique direction and insertion of each optic nerve, into the side of the eye next to the nose, in a direct line from the opposite side of the brain.

The vomiting, which generally attends the attack of hemiplegia, is mentioned in Sect. XX. 8. and is similar to that attending vertigo in sea-sickness, and at the commencement of some fevers. Black stools sometimes attend the commencement of hemiplegia, which is probably an effusion of blood from the biliary duct, where the liver is previously affected; or some blood may be derived to the intestines by its escaping from the vena cava into the receptacle of chyle during the distress of the paralytic attack; and may be conveyed from thence into the intestines by the retrograde motions of the lacteals; as probably sometimes happens in diabætes. See Sect. XXVII. 2. Palsy of one side of the face is mentioned in Class II. 1. 4. 6. Paralysis of the lacteals, of the liver, and of the veins, which are described in Sect. XXVIII. XXX. and XXVII. do not belong to this class, as they are not diseases of voluntary motions.

M. M. The electric sparks and shocks, if used early in the disease, are frequently of service. A purge of aloes, or calomel. A vomit. Blister. Saline draughts. Then the bark. Mercurial ointment or sublimate, where the liver is evidently diseased; or where the gutta rosea has previously existed. Sudden alarm. Frequent voluntary efforts. Externally ether. Volatile alcali. Fomentation on the head. Friction. When children, who have suffered an hemiplegia, begin to use the affected arm, the other hand should be tied up for half an hour three or four times a day; which obliges them at their play to use more frequent voluntary efforts with the diseased limb, and thus sooner to restore the dissevered associations of motion.

Dr. J. Alderson has lately much recommended the leaves of rhus toxicodendon (sumach), from one gr. to iv. of the dried powder to be taken three or four times a day. Essay on Rhus Toxic. Johnson, London, 1793. But it is difficult to know what medicine is of service, as the movements of the muscles must be learned, as in infancy, by frequent efforts.

11. Paraplegia. A palsy of the lower half of the body divided horizontally. Animals may be conceived to have double bodies, one half in general resembling so exactly the other, and being supplied with separate sets of nerves; this gives rise to hemiplegia, or palsy of one half of the body divided vertically; but the paraplegia, or palsy of the lower parts of the system, depends on an injury of the spinal marrow, or that part of the brain which is contained in the vertebræ of the back; by which all the nerves situated below the injured part are deprived of their nutriment, or precluded from doing their proper offices; and the muscles, to which they are derived, are in consequence disobedient to the power of volition.

This sometimes occurs from an external injury, as a fall from an eminence; of which I saw a deplorable instance, where the bladder and rectum, as well as the lower limbs, were deprived of so much of their powers of motion, as depended on volition or sensation; but I suppose not of that part of it, which depends on irritation. In the same manner as the voluntary muscles in hemiplegia are sometimes brought into action by irritation, as in stretching or pendiculation, described in Sect. VII. 1. 3.

But the most frequent cause of paraplegia is from a protuberance of one of the spinal vertebræ; which is owing to the innutrition or softness of bones, described in Class I. 2. 2. 17. The cure of this deplorable disease is frequently effected by the stimulus of an issue placed on each side of the prominent spine, as first published by Mr. Pott. The other means recommended in softness of bones should also be attended to; both in respect to the internal medicines, and to the mechanical methods of supporting, or extending the spine; which last, however, in this case requires particular caution.

12. Somnus. In sleep all voluntary power is suspended, see Sect. XVIII. An unusual quantity of sleep is often produced by weakness. In this case small doses of opium, wine, and bark, may be given with advantage. For the periods of sleep, see Class IV. 2. 4. 1.

The subsequent ingenious observations on the frequency of the pulse, which sometimes occurs in sleep, are copied from a letter of Dr. Currie of Liverpool to the author.

 * "Though rest in general perhaps renders the healthy pulse slower, yet under certain circumstances the contrary is the truth. A full meal without wine or other strong liquor does not increase the frequency of my pulse, while I sit upright, and have my attention engaged. But if I take a recumbent posture after eating, my pulse becomes more frequent, especially if my mind be vacant, and I become drowsy; and, if I slumber, this increased frequency is more considerable with heat and flushing.

 * "This I apprehend to be a general truth. The observation may be frequently made upon children; and the restless and feverish nights experienced by many people after a full supper are, I believe, owing to this cause. The supper occasions no inconvenience, whilst the person is upright and awake; but, when he lies down and begins to sleep, especially if he does not perspire, the symptoms above mentioned occur. Which may be thus explained in part from your principles. When the power of volition is abolished, the other sensorial actions are increased. In ordinary sleep this does not occasion increased frequency of the pulse; but where sleep takes place during the process of digestion, the digestion itself goes on with increased rapidity. Heat is excited in the system faster than it is expended; and operating on the sensitive actions, it carries them beyond the limitation of pleasure, producing, as is common in such cases, increased frequency of pulse.

 * "It is to be observed, that in speaking of the heat generated under these circumstances, I do not allude to any chemical evolution of heat from the food in the process of digestion. I doubt if this takes place to any considerable degree, for I do not observe that the parts incumbent on the stomach are increased in heat during the most hurried digestion. It is on some parts of the surface, but more particularly on the extremities of the body, that the increased heat excited by digestion appears, and the heat thus produced arises, as it should seem, from the sympathy between the stomach and the vessels of the skin. The parts most affected are the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Even there the thermometer seldom rises above 97 or 98 degrees, a temperature not higher than that of the trunk of the body; but three or four degrees higher than the common temperature of these parts, and therefore producing an uneasy sensation of heat, a sensation increased by the great sensibility of the parts affected.

 * "That the increased heat excited by digestion in sleep is the cause of the accompanying fever, seems to be confirmed by observing, that if an increased expenditure of heat accompanies the increased generation of it (as when perspiration on the extremities or surface attends this kind of sleep) the frequent pulse and flushed countenance do not occur, as I know by experiment. If, during the feverish sleep already mentioned, I am awakened, and my attention engaged powerfully, my pulse becomes almost immediately slower, and the fever gradually subsides."

From these observations of Dr. Currie it appears, that, while in common sleep the actions of the heart, arteries, and capillaries, are strengthened by the accumulation of sensorial power during the suspension of voluntary action, and the pulse in consequence becomes fuller and slower; in the feverish sleep above described the actions of the heart, arteries, and capillaries, are quickened as well as strengthened by their consent with the increased actions of the stomach, as well as by the stimulus of the new chyle introduced into the circulation. For the stomach, and all other parts of the system, being more sensible and more irritable during sleep, Sect. XVIII. 15. and probably more ready to act from association, are now exerted with greater velocity as well as strength, constituting a temporary fever of the sensitive irritated kind, resembling the fever excited by wine in the beginning of intoxication; or in some people by a full meal in their waking hours. Sect. XXXV. 1.

On waking, this increased sensibility and irritability of the system ceases by the renewed exertions of volition; in the same manner as more violent exertions of volition destroy greater pains; and the pulse in consequence subsides along with the increase of heat; if more violent efforts of volition are exerted, the system becomes still less affected by sensation or irritation. Hence the fever and vertigo of intoxication are lessened by intense thinking, Sect. XXI. 8; and insane people are known to bear the pain of cold and hunger better than others, Sect. XXXIV. 2. 5; and lastly, if greater voluntary efforts exist, as in violent anger or violent exercise, the whole system is thrown into more energetic action, and a voluntary fever is induced, as appears by the red skin, quickened pulse, and increase of heat; whence dropsies and fevers with debility are not unfrequently removed by insanity.

Hence the exertion of the voluntary power in its natural degree diminishes the increased sensibility, and irritability, and probably the increased associability, which occurs during sleep; and thus reduces the frequency of the pulse in the feverish sleep after a full meal. In its more powerful state of exertion, it diminishes or destroys sensations and irritations, which are stronger than natural, as in intoxication, or which precede convulsions, or insanity. In its still more powerful degree, the superabundance of this sensorial power actuates and invigorates the whole moving system, giving strength and frequency to the pulse, and an universal glow both of colour and of heat, as in violent anger, or outrageous insanities.

If, in the feverish sleep above described, the skin becomes cooled by the evaporation of much perspirable matter, or by the application of cooler air, or thinner clothes, the actions of the cutaneous capillaries are lessened by defect of the stimulus of heat, which counteracts the increase of sensibility during sleep, and the pulsations of the heart and arteries become slower from the lessened stimulus of the particles of blood thus cooled in the cutaneous and pulmonary vessels. Hence the admission of cold air, or ablution with subtepid or with cold water, in fevers with hot skin, whether they be attended with arterial strength, or arterial debility, renders the pulse slower; in the former case by diminishing the stimulus of the blood, and in the latter by lessening the expenditure of sensorial power. See Suppl. I. 8. and 15.

13. Incubus. The night-mare is an imperfect sleep, where the desire of locomotion is vehement, but the muscles do not obey the will; it is attended with great uneasiness, a sense of suffocation, and frequently with fear. It is caused by violent fatigue, or drunkenness, or indigestible food, or lying on the back, or perhaps from many other kinds of uneasiness in our sleep, which may originate either from the body or mind.

Now as the action of respiration is partly voluntary, this complaint may be owing to the irritability of the system being too small to carry on the circulation of the blood through the lungs during sleep, when the voluntary power is suspended. Whence the blood may accumulate in them, and a painful oppression supervene; as in some hæmorrhages of the lungs, which occur during sleep; and in patients much debilitated by fevers. See Somnus interruptus, Class I. 2. 1. 3. and I. 2. 1. 9.

Great fatigue with a full supper and much wine, I have been well informed by one patient, always produced this disease in himself to a great degree. Now the general irritability of the system is much decreased by fatigue, as it exhausts the sensorial power; and secondly, too much wine and stimulating food will again diminish the irritability of some parts of the system, by employing a part of the sensorial power, which is already too small, in digesting a great quantity of aliment; and in increasing the motions of the organs of sense in consequence of some degree of intoxication, whence difficulty of breathing may occur from the inirritability of the lungs, as in Class I. 2. 1. 3.

M. M. To sleep on a hard bed with the head raised. Moderate supper. The bark. By sleeping on a harder bed the patient will turn himself more frequently, and not be liable to sleep too profoundly, or lie too long in one posture. To be awakened frequently by an alarm clock.

14. Lethargus. The lethargy is a slighter apoplexy. It is supposed to originate from universal pressure on the brain, and is said to be produced by compressing the spinal marrow, where there is a deficiency of the bone in the spina bifida. See Sect. XVIII. 20. Whereas in the hydrocephalus there is only a partial pressure of the brain; and probably in nervous fevers with stupor the pressure on the brain may affect only the nerves of the senses, which lie within the skull, and not those nerves of the medulla oblongata, which principally contribute to move the heart and arteries; whence in the lethargic or apoplectic stupor the pulse is slow as in sleep, whereas in nervous fever the pulse is very quick and feeble, and generally so in hydrocephalus.

In cases of obstructed kidneys, whether owing to the tubuli uriniferi being totally obstructed by calculous matter, or by their paralysis, a kind of drowsiness or lethargy comes on about the eighth or ninth day, and the patient gradually sinks. See Class I. 1. 3. 9.

15. Syncope epileptica, is a temporary apoplexy, the pulse continuing in its natural state, and the voluntary power suspended. This terminates the paroxysms of epilepsy.

When the animal power is much exhausted by the preceding convulsions, so that the motions from sensation as well as those from volition are suspended; in a quarter or half an hour the sensorial power becomes restored, and if no pain, or irritation producing pain, recurs, the fit of epilepsy ceases; if the pain recurs, or the irritation, which used to produce it, a new fit of convulsion takes place, and is succeeded again by a syncope. See Epilepsy, Class III. 1. 1. 7.

16. Apoplexia. Apoplexy may be termed an universal palsy, or a permanent sleep. In which, where the pulse is weak, copious bleeding must be injurious; as is well observed by Dr. Heberden, Trans. of the College.

Mr. ——, about 70 years of age, had an apoplectic seizure. His pulse was strong and full. One of the temporal arteries was opened, and about ten ounces of blood suddenly taken from it. He seemed to receive no benefit from this operation; but gradually sunk, and lived but a day or two.

If apoplexy arises from the pressure of blood extravasated on the brain, one moderate venesection may be of service to prevent the further effusion of blood; but copious venesection must be injurious by weakening the patient; since the effused blood must have time, as in common vibices or bruises, to undergo a chemico-animal process, so to change its nature as to fit it for absorption; which may take two or three weeks, which time a patient weakened by repeated venesection or arteriotomy may not survive.

Mrs. ——, about 40 years old, had an apoplectic seizure after great exertion from fear; she had lain about 24 hours without speech, or having swallowed any liquid. She was then forcibly raised in bed, and a spoonful of solution of aloes in wine put into her mouth, and the end of the spoon withdrawn, that she might more easily swallow the liquid.—This was done every hour, with broth, and wine and water intervening, till evacuations were procured; which with other means had good effect, and she recovered, except that a considerable degree of hemiplegia remained, and some imperfection of her speech.

Many people, who have taken so much vinous spirit as to acquire the temporary apoplexy of intoxication, and are not improperly said to be dead-drunk, have died after copious venesection, I suppose in consequence of it. I once saw at a public meeting two gentlemen in the drunken apoplexy; they were totally insensible with low pulse, on this account they were directed not to lose blood, but to be laid on a bed with their heads high, and to be turned every half hour; as soon as they could swallow, warm tea was given them, which evacuated their stomachs, and they gradually recovered, as people do from less degrees of intoxication.

M. M. Cupping on the occiput. Venesection once in moderate quantity. Warm fomentations long continued and frequently repeated on the shaved head. Solution of aloes. Clysters with solution of aloe and oil of amber. A blister on the spine. An emetic. Afterwards the bark, and small doses of chalybeates. Small electric shocks through the head. Errhines. If small doses of opium?

17. Mors a frigore. Death from cold. The unfortunate travellers, who almost every winter perish in the snow, are much exhausted by their efforts to proceed on their journey, as well as benumbed by cold. And as much greater exercise can be borne without fatigue in cold weather than in warm; because the excessive motions of the cutaneous vessels are thus prevented, and the consequent waste of sensorial power; it may be inferred, that the fatigued traveller becomes paralytic from violent exertion as well as by the application of cold.

Great degrees of cold affect the motions of those vessels most, which have been generally excited into action by irritation; for when the feet are much benumbed by cold, and painful, and at the same time almost insensible to the touch of external objects, the voluntary muscles retain their motions, and we continue to walk on; the same happens to the fingers of children in throwing snow-balls, the voluntary motions of the muscles continue, though those of the cutaneous vessels are benumbed into inactivity.

Mr. Thompson, an elderly gentleman of Shrewsbury, was seized with hemiplegia in the cold bath; which I suppose might be owing to some great energy of exertion, as much as to the coldness of the water. As in the instance given of Mr. Nairn, who, by the exertion to save his relation, perished himself. See Sect. XXXIV. 1. 7.

Whence I conclude, that though heat is a fluid necessary to muscular motion, both perhaps by its stimulus, and by its keeping the minute component parts of the ultimate fibrils of the muscles or organs of sense at a proper distance from each other; yet that paralysis, properly so called, is the consequence of exhaustion of sensorial power by exertion. And that the accumulations of it during the torpor of the cutaneous vessels by exposure to cold, or of some internal viscus in the cold fits of agues, are frequently instrumental in recovering the use of paralytic limbs, or of the motions of other paralytic parts of the system. See Spec. 4. of this genus.

Animal bodies resist the power of cold probably by their exertions in consequence of the pain of cold, see Botan. Gard. V. 1. additional note xii. But if these increased exertions be too violent, so as to exhaust the sensorial power in producing unnecessary motions, the animal will probably sooner perish. Thus a moderate quantity of wine or spirit repeated at proper intervals of time might be of service to those, who are long exposed to excessive cold, both by increasing the action of the capillary vessels, and thus producing heat, and perhaps by increasing in some degree the secretion of sensorial power in the brain. But the contrary must happen when taken immoderately, and not at due intervals. A well attested history was once related to me of two men, who set out on foot to travel in the snow, one of whom drank two or three glasses of brandy before they began their journey, the other contented himself with his usual diet and potation; the former of whom perished in spite of any assistance his companion could afford him; and the other performed his journey with safety. In this case the sensorial power was exhausted by the unnecessary motions of incipient intoxication by the stimulus of the brandy, as well as by the exertions of walking; which so weakened the dram-drinker, that the cold sooner destroyed him; that is, he had not power to produce sufficient muscular or arterial action, and in consequence sufficient heat, to supply the great expenditure of it. Hence the capillaries of the skin first cease to act, and become pale and empty; next those which are immediately associated with them, as the extremities of the pulmonary artery, as happens on going into the cold bath. By the continued inaction of these parts of the vascular system the blood becomes accumulated in the internal arteries, and the brain is supposed to be affected by its compression; because these patients are said to sleep, or to become apoplectic, before they die. I overtook a fishman asleep on his panniers on a very cold frosty night, but on waking him he did not appear to be in any degree of stupor. See Class I. 2. 2. 1.

When travellers are benighted in deep snow, they might frequently be saved by covering themselves in it, except a small aperture for air; in which situation the lives of hares, sheep, and other animals, are so often preserved. The snow, both in respect to its component parts, and to the air contained in its pores, is a bad conductor of heat, and will therefore well keep out the external cold; and as the water, when part of it dissolves, is attracted into the pores of the remainder of it, the situation of an animal beneath it is perfectly dry; and, if he is in contact with the earth, he is in a degree of heat between 48, the medium heat of the earth, and 32, the freezing point; that is, in 40 degrees of heat, in which a man thus covered will be as warm as in bed. See Botan. Garden, V. II. notes on Anemone, Barometz, and Muschus. If these facts were more generally understood, it might annually save the lives of many.

After any part of the vascular system of the body has been long exposed to cold, the sensorial power is so much accumulated in it, that on coming into a warm room the pain of hotach is produced, and inflammation, and consequent mortification, owing to the great exertion of those vessels, when again exposed to a moderate degree of warmth. See Sect. XII. 5. Whence the propriety of applying but very low degrees of heat to limbs benumbed with cold at first, as of snow in its state of dissolving, which is at 32 degrees of heat, or of very cold water. A French writer has observed, that if frozen apples be thawed gradually by covering them with thawing snow, or immersing them in very cold water, that they do not lose their taste; if this fact was well ascertained, it might teach us how to preserve other ripe fruits in ice-houses for winter consumption.

title: Zoonomia/II.III.II.I


text:
Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/535

 Rh with the wind blowing from the north-west, the wind commonly goes out to the north.

Mist on Troup Head, a high headland in the parish of Gamrie, Banffshire, with the wind from the south or southeast, indicates a standing wind (Macduff).

XI.—

A common saying is: "As lang foul, as lang fair." It is a general belief that a severe winter is followed by a fine summer.

The wind blows for three months from the same quarter from which it blows at twelve o'clock on the Rood Day. This refers to O.S. As the fisherman said: "Man may change and styles, but not seasons" (St. Comb's).

During the month of March the saying is, that however long the wind blows from the south-east the north-west pays it back (Pittulie).

If the wind does not change on Easter Sunday, "Paiss Sunday", the wind will blow for six weeks from the same quarter (Pittulie).

The first twelve days of January indicate the kind of weather for each month of the year (Pitsligo, inland).

XII.—.

When a soft, warm wind blows from the south in the Moray Firth, the wind will shortly veer to the west and rise to a breeze.

In fine weather with a land wind, if the "sang o' the sea" arise and come towards the land, that is, against the wind, and if the wind "answers the sang an' goes roon t' the back o' the sang", that is, goes out to seaward after the course of the sun, fair weather follows next day. If the wind does not "answer the sang", then a breeze is at hand (Pittulie).

If the wind backs at sunrise, which the fishermen of Pittulie call "harsin the sin", a breeze follows (Pittulie).

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Zoonomia/II.III.II.II

ORDO II.

Decreased Volition.

GENUS II.

With decreased Actions of the Organs of Sense.

SPECIES.

1. Recollectionis jactura. Loss of recollection. This is the defect of memory in old people, who forget the actions of yesterday, being incapable of voluntary recollection, and yet remember those of their youth, which by frequent repetition are introduced by association or suggestion. This is properly the paralysis of the mind; the organs of sense do not obey the voluntary power; that is, our ideas cannot be recollected, or acted over again by the will.

After an apoplectic attack the patients, on beginning to recover, find themselves most at a loss in recollecting proper names of persons or places; as those words have not been so frequently associated with the ideas they stand for, as the common words of a language. Mr. ——, a man of strong mind, of a short necked family, many of whom had suffered by apoplexy, after an apoplectic fit on his recovering the use of speech, after repeated trials to remember the name of a person or place, applauded himself, when he succeeded, with such a childish smile on the partial return of his sagacity, as very much affected me.—Not long, alas! to return; for another attack in a few weeks destroyed the whole.

I saw a child after the small-pox, which was left in this situation; it was lively, active, and even vigorous; but shewed that kind of surprise, which novelty excites, at every object it viewed; and that as often as it viewed it. I never heard the termination of the case.

2. Stultitia voluntaria. Voluntary folly. The absence of voluntary power and consequent incapacity to compare the ideas of present and future good. Brute animals may be said to be in this situation, as they are in general excited into action only by their present painful or pleasurable sensations. Hence though they are liable to surprise, when their passing trains of ideas are dissevered by violent stimuli; yet are they not affected with wonder or astonishment at the novelty of objects; as they possess but in a very inferior degree, that voluntary power of comparing the present ideas with those previously acquired, which distinguishes mankind; and is termed analogical reasoning, when deliberatively exerted; and intuitive analogy, when used without our attention to it, and which always preserves our hourly trains of ideas consistent with truth and nature. See Sect. XVII. 3. 7.

3. Credulitas. Credulity. Life is short, opportunities of knowledge rare; our senses are fallacious, our reasonings uncertain, mankind therefore struggles with perpetual error from the cradle to the coffin. He is necessitated to correct experiment by analogy, and analogy by experiment; and not always to rest satisfied in the belief of facts even with this two-fold testimony, till future opportunities, or the observations of others, concur in their support.

Ignorance and credulity have ever been companions, and have misled and enslaved mankind; philosophy has in all ages endeavoured to oppose their progress, and to loosen the shackles they had imposed; philosophers have on this account been called unbelievers: unbelievers of what? of the fictions of fancy, of witchcraft, hobgobblins, apparitions, vampires, fairies; of the influence of stars on human actions, miracles wrought by the bones of saints, the flights of ominous birds, the predictions from the bowels of dying animals, expounders of dreams, fortune-tellers, conjurors, modern prophets, necromancy, cheiromancy, animal magnetism, with endless variety of folly? These they have disbelieved and despised, but have ever bowed their hoary heads to Truth and Nature.

Mankind may be divided in respect to the facility of their belief or conviction into two classes; those, who are ready to assent to single facts from the evidence of their senses, or from the serious assertions of others; and those, who require analogy to corroborate or authenticate them.

Our first knowledge is acquired by our senses; but these are liable to deceive us, and we learn to detect these deceptions by comparing the ideas presented to us by one sense with those presented by another. Thus when we first view a cylinder, it appears to the eye as a flat surface with different shades on it, till we correct this idea by the sense of touch, and find its surface to be circular; that is, having some parts gradually receding further from the eye than others. So when a child, or a cat, or a bird, first sees its own image in a looking-glass, it believes that another animal exists before it, and detects this fallacy by going behind the glass to examine, if another tangible animal really exists there.

Another exuberant source of error consists in the false notions, which we receive in our early years from the design or ignorance of our instructors, which affect all our future reasoning by their perpetual intrusions; as those habits of muscular actions of the face or limbs, which are called tricks, when contracted in infancy continue to the end of our lives.

A third great source of error is the vivacity of our ideas of imagination, which perpetually intrude themselves by various associations, and compose the farrago of our dreams; in which, by the suspension of volition, we are precluded from comparing the ideas of one sense with those of another, or the incongruity of their successions with the usual course of nature, and thus to detect their fallacy. Which we do in our waking hours by a perpetual voluntary exertion, a process of the mind above mentioned, which we have termed intuitive analogy. Sect. XVII. 3. 7.

This analogy presupposes an acquired knowledge of things, hence children and ignorant people are the most credulous, as not possessing much knowledge of the usual course of nature; and secondly, those are most credulous, whose faculty of comparing ideas, or the voluntary exertion of it, is slow or imperfect. Thus if the power of the magnetic needle of turning towards the north, or the shock given by touching both sides of an electrized coated jar, was related for the first time to a philosopher, and to an ignorant person; the former would be less ready to believe them, than the latter; as he would find nothing similar in nature to compare them to, he would again and again repeat the experiment, before he would give it his entire credence; till by these repetitions it would cease to be a single fact, and would therefore gain the evidence of analogy. But the latter, as having less knowledge of nature, and less facility of voluntary exertion, would more readily believe the assertions of others, or a single fact, as presented to his own observation. Of this kind are the bulk of mankind; they continue throughout their lives in a state of childhood, and have thus been the dupes of priests and politicians in all countries and in all ages of the world.

In regard to religious matters, there is an intellectual cowardice instilled into the minds of the people from their infancy; which prevents their inquiry: credulity is made an indispensable virtue; to inquire or exert their reason in religious matters is denounced as sinful; and in the catholic church is punished with more severe penances than moral crimes. But in respect to our belief of the supposed medical facts, which are published by variety of authors; many of whom are ignorant, and therefore credulous; the golden rule of David Hume may be applied with great advantage. "When two miraculous assertions oppose each other, believe the less miraculous." Thus if a person is said to have received the small-pox a second time, and to have gone through all the stages of it, one may thus reason: twenty thousand people have been exposed to the variolous contagion a second time without receiving the variolous fever, to every one who has been said to have thus received it; it appears therefore less miraculous, that the assertor of this supposed fact has been deceived, or wishes to deceive, than that it has so happened contrary to the long experienced order of nature.

M. M. The method of cure is to increase our knowledge of the laws of nature, and our habit of comparing whatever ideas are presented to us with those known laws, and thus to counteract the fallacies of our senses, to emancipate ourselves from the false impressions which we have imbibed in our infancy, and to set the faculty of reason above that of imagination.

title: Zoonomia/II.III.II.II


text: Template:Block right

title: Template:Block right


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The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Davidson, George

DAVIDSON, George, American astronomer: b. Nottingham, England, 9 May 1825; d. 1911. He came to the United States in 1832; was graduated at the Central High School, Philadelphia, in 1845; and joined the United States Coast Survey. While in this service he was chief engineer of a party which surveyed a ship canal route across the Isthmus of Darien. He also made a geographical survey of the coast of Alaska in 1867. He traveled extensively in Egypt, China, India and Europe, for purposes of scientific study and also took charge of the telegraph-longitude work, and of the main triangulation and astronomical party carrying the geodetic work across the continent. From 1877-84 he was regent of the University of California, and for many years was president of the California Academy of Sciences. He retired from the coast survey after 50 years of distinguished service, in 1895, and became professor of geography in the University of California. He published ‘The Alaska Boundary’ (1903); ‘The Glaciers of Alaska’ (1904); ‘The Discovery of San Francisco Bay’ (1907); ‘Francis Drake on the Northwest Coast of America’ (1908); ‘Origin and Meaning of the Name California’ (1910).


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Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/536

 480 If the wind blows from the west or north-west, and towards evening goes to the north, it is called the "wife that goes out at even", and soon springs up into a breeze (Macduff).

If the wind blows from the south-west, with blackness in the west and a bank of cloud to the east, the wind backs to the south before the blackness in the west, and rises to a breeze (Pittulie).

XIII.-.

If hoar frost, or "white frost", continues for two days, it commonly ends on the third day with foul weather.

is a Kincardineshire rhyme. It is looked upon as a forerunner of a breeze (Rosehearty).

The fishermen have a saying that frost "grips doon, or conquers, the ween and the sea" (general).

XIV.—.

If distant hills are seen clearly, rain is not far off. When the hills on the north side of the Moray Firth are seen from the south side in Banff and Aberdeenshire, a change of weather is looked for within a short time (general).

XV.—.

The dog eating grass, and the cat washing its face, are indications of rain not far off (general, inland).

The "louper-dog" (the porpoise) plunging through the sea indicates approaching stormy weather (St. Comb's, Pittulie, etc.). It goes against the wind.


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Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/537

 Rh When sea-birds fly high stormy weather is not far off (Portessie).

When sea-birds fly high and wheel round and round before the wind, a breeze is not far on". When the breeze comes the birds face it (Macduff).

When sea-birds fly high in circles stormy weather is at hand. When they fly to sea eastward it is a sign of settled weather (St. Comb's).

Birds flying high and wheeling round and round indicate a "changin win" (Pittulie).

If the scratt (cormorant) fly through the wind at night it is an indication of fair weather, but, if the bird fly before it, stormy weather is looked for (Macduff).

When the mawr or queet, in the early morning, utters out at sea the notes ur-r-r-r, "a fine easterly haar is comin up" (Pittulie).

When gulls fly high "in the top of the air" a northerly breeze is not far off (Macduff).

If ducks dart through the pond they are swimming in and flap their wings, it is looked upon as indicating a coming breeze (Keith, inland). When doing so, they are said to be "leukin for ween."

When swallows fly low stormy weather is at hand.

A larger number of midges than ordinary is an indication of rain.

When herring rise and swim in shoals on the surface, which some fishermen (Macduff) call "brushin", the saying is: "The herrin's brushin; they'll get a gale i' their tail."

When mackerel rise to the surface and rush through the water flapping their tails, a breeze is approaching (Pittulie, Rosehearty).

If salmon are seen leaping in numbers a breeze is approaching (Macduff).

When the "saithe"—the young of the cod-fish—comes to the surface in shoals, a breeze is looked for (Rosehearty).


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Page:Peter and Wendy.djvu/263

Rh that dear sister, who was ever in waiting, to come and see the sight, but by the time she came the soft face was wet again. Thus I was deprived of some of my glory, and I remember once only making her laugh before witnesses. I kept a record of her laughs on a piece of paper, a stroke for each, and it was my custom to show this proudly to the doctor every morning. There were five strokes the first time I slipped it into his hand, and when their meaning was explained to him, he laughed so boisterously that I cried, "I wish that was one of hers!" Then he was sympathetic, and asked me if my mother had seen the paper yet, and when I shook my head he said that if I showed it to her now and told her that these were her five laughs he thought I might win another. I had less confidence, but he was the mysterious man whom you ran for in the dead of night (you flung sand at his window to waken him, and if it was only toothache he extracted the tooth through the open window, but when it was something sterner he was with you in the dark square at once, like a man who slept in his topcoat), so I did as he bade me, and not only did she laugh then but again when I put the laugh down, so that though it was really one laugh with a tear in the middle I counted it as two.

It was doubtless that same sister who told me not to sulk when my mother lay thinking of him, Rh

title: Page:Peter and Wendy.djvu/263


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Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/538

 482.

The Milky Way is called "The White Strip" (Nairn).

John Stro is the name of the "Man in the Moon". He is the Jew that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day in the Wilderness, and was stoned to death (Keith); and he is spoken of as "the man wi' the birn o' sticks on 's back".

The three stars of Orion's Belt bear the name of "The Lady's Elvan" (ell-wand); and the Hyades that of "The Sawen Starns" (Keith).

Venus, as the Morning Star, is called "The Star of Bethlehem" (Nairn).


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Page:Peter and Wendy.djvu/264

Rh but to try instead to get her to talk about him. I did not see how this could make her the merry mother she used to be, but I was told that if I could not do it nobody could, and this made me eager to begin. At first, they say, I was often jealous, stopping her fond memories with the cry, "Do you mind nothing about me?" but that did not last; its place was taken by an intense desire (again, I think, my sister must have breathed it into life) to become so like him that even my mother should not see the difference, and many and artful were the questions I put to that end. Then I practised in secret, but after a whole week had passed I was still rather like myself. He had such a cheery way of whistling, she had told me, it had always brightened her at her work to hear him whistling, and when he whistled he stood with his legs apart, and his hands in the pockets of his knickerbockers. I decided to trust to this, so one day after I had learned his whistle (every boy of enterprise invents a whistle of his own) from boys who had been his comrades, I secretly put on a suit of his clothes, dark grey they were, with little spots, and they fitted me many years afterwards, and thus disguised I slipped, unknown to the others, into my mother's room. Quaking, I doubt not, yet so pleased, I stood still until she saw me, and then—how it must have hurt her "Listen!" I cried in a glow of triumph,and I Rh

title: Page:Peter and Wendy.djvu/264


text: Folk-Lore/Volume 2/An Explanation

title: Folk-Lore/Volume 2/An Explanation


text:
The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Davidson, James Wheeler

DAVIDSON, James Wheeler, American capitalist: b. Austin, Minn., 14 June 1872. He was graduated from the Northwestern Military Academy, Highland Park, Ill., in 1891. He was a member of the Peary Artic Expedition to the North Polar regions, 1893-94; war correspondent with Chinese army, 1895; and with the Japanese army, 1895-96. In June 1897, he was appointed by President Cleveland consular agent for the island of Formosa, where he remained nine years, during which time he wrote numerous monographs on Formosan affairs, as well as a large volume entitled ‘Formosa Past and Present’ (1890), which is considered as a standard book of reference on this subject. In 1903 he obtained leave of absence, and under the auspices of the Russian Communications Department made a careful survey of the territory adjacent to the Asian section of the Trans-Siberian Railway, collecting material for a complete report of this territory, extracts from which appeared in the Century Magazine (April-June 1903). In 1904 he was appointed to Dalny, Manchuria, one of the political consulates, where he was expected to promote Secretary Hay's “open door” policy. Later be became consul at Antung, Manchuria, and commercial attaché to the American legation, Pekin, and special agent of the Department of State. He was appointed by President Roosevelt in 1905 consul-general at Shanghai. He was decorated by the Emperor of Japan in 1895 with Order of Rising Sun for services rendered Japanese army in capturing the capital of Formosa. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Asiatic Society, the Explorers' Club and the Authors' Club. He has large lumbering interests and in 1915 was president of eight banks in North Dakota. His publications include ‘Formosa Camphor and Its Future’ (1895); ‘A Review of the History of Formosa’ (1896); ‘Formosa Under Japanese Rule’ (1903), and contributions to the publications of scientific societies and magazines.


text:
Zoonomia/II.IV

The Orders and Genera of the Fourth Class of Diseases.

CLASS IV.

DISEASES OF ASSOCIATION.

ORDO I.

Increased Associate Motions.

GENERA.

 * 1. Catenated with irritative motions.
 * 2. Catenated with sensitive motions.
 * 3. Catenated with voluntary motions.
 * 4. Catenated with external influences.

ORDO II.

Decreased Associate Motions.

GENERA.

 * 1. Catenated with irritative motions.
 * 2. Catenated with sensitive motions.
 * 3. Catenated with voluntary motions.
 * 4. Catenated with external influences.

ORDO III.

Retrograde Associate Motions.

GENERA.

 * 1. Catenated with irritative motions.
 * 2. Catenated with sensitive motions.
 * 3. Catenated with voluntary motions.
 * 4. Catenated with external influences.

The Orders, Genera, and Species, of the Fourth Class of Diseases.

CLASS IV.

DISEASES OF ASSOCIATION.

ORDO I.

Increased Associate Motions.

GENUS I.

Catenated with Irritative Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS II.

Catenated with Sensitive Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS III.

Catenated with Voluntary Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS IV.

Catenated with External Influences.

SPECIES.

ORDO II.

Decreased Associate Motions.

GENUS I.

Catenated with Irritative Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS II.

Catenated with Sensitive Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS III.

Catenated with Voluntary Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS IV.

Catenated with External Influences.

SPECIES.

ORDO III.

Retrograde Associate Motions.

GENUS I.

Catenated with Irritative Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS II.

Catenated with Sensitive Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS III.

Catenated with Voluntary Motions.

SPECIES.

GENUS IV.

Catenated with External Influences.

SPECIES.

title: Zoonomia/II.IV


text:
The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Davidson, James Wood

DAVIDSON, James Wood, American author: b. Newberry County, S. C., 9 March 1829; d. 1905. He was graduated from South Carolina College (now the State University) and taught Greek at the Mount Zion Collegiate Institute. During the Civil War he fought in the Confederate army as adjutant in Stonewall Jackson's army corps under Lee in Virginia. After the war he took up journalism, was literary editor of the New York Evening Post, 1873, and American correspondent of the London Standard from 1873 to 1878. After 1887 he was employed in the Treasury Department at Washington. He wrote ‘Tne Living Writers of the South’ (1869); ‘A School History of South Carolina’ (1869); ‘The Correspondent’ (1886); ‘The Poetry of the Future’ (1888); and ‘The Florida of To-day’ (1889).


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Page:Peter and Wendy.djvu/265

Rh stretched my legs wide apart and plunged my hands into the pockets of my knickerbockers, and began to whistle.

She lived twenty-nine years after his death—such active years, until toward the end, that you never knew where she was unless you took hold of her—and though she was frail henceforth and ever growing frailer, her housekeeping again became famous, so that brides called as a matter of course to watch her ca'ming and sanding and stitching: there are old people still, one or two, to tell with wonder in their eyes how she could bake twenty-four bannocks in the hour, and not a chip in one of them. And how many she gave away, how much she gave away of all she had, and what pretty ways she had of giving it! Her face beamed and rippled with mirth as before, and her laugh, that I had tried so hard to force, came running home again. I have heard no such laugh as hers save from merry children; the laughter of most of us ages, and wears out with the body, but hers remained gleeful to the last, as if it were born afresh every morning. There was always something of the child in her, and her laugh was its voice, as eloquent of the past to me as was the christening robe to her. But I had not made her forget the bit of her that was dead; in those nine and twenty years he was not removed one day farther from her. Many a time she fell asleep Rh

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Author:Edmund Veckenstedt

Works

 * Geschichte der griechischen Farbenlehre, 1889

title: Author:Edmund Veckenstedt


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Zoonomia/II.IV.I.I

CLASS IV.

DISEASES OF ASSOCIATION.

ORDO I.

Increased Associate Motions.

GENUS I.

Catenated with Irritative Motion.

The importance of the subsequent class not only consists in its elucidating all the sympathetic diseases, but in its opening a road to the knowledge of fever. The difficulty and novelty of the subject must plead in excuse for the present imperfect state of it. The reader is entreated previously to attend to the following circumstances for the greater facility of investigating their intricate connections; which I shall enumerate under the following heads.

 * A. Associate motions distinguished from catenations.
 * B. Associate motions of three kinds.
 * C. Associations affected by external influences.
 * D. Associations affected by other sensorial motions.
 * E. Associations catenated with sensation.
 * F. Direct and reverse sympathy.
 * G. Associations affected four ways.
 * H. Origin of associations.
 * I. Of the action of vomiting.
 * K. Tertian associations.

A. Associate Motions distinguished from Catenations.

Associate motions properly mean only those, which are caused by the sensorial power of association. Whence it appears, that those fibrous motions, which constitute the introductory link of an associate train of motions, are excluded from this definition, as not being themselves caused by the sensorial power of association, but by irritation, or sensation, or volition. I shall give for example the flushing of the face after dinner; the capillary vessels of the face increase their actions in consequence of their catenation, not their association, with those of the stomach; which latter are caused to act with greater energy by the irritation excited by the stimulus of food. These capillaries of the face are associated with each other reciprocally, as being all of them excited by the sensorial power of association; but they are only catenated with those of the stomach, which are not in this case associate motions but irritative ones. The common use of the word association for almost every kind of connection has rendered this subject difficult; from which inaccuracy I fear some parts of this work are not exempt.

B. Associate Motions of three Kinds.

Those trains or tribes of associate motions, whose introductory link consists of an irritative motion, are termed irritative associations; as when the muscles of the eyelids close the eye in common nictitation. Those, whose introductory link consists of a sensitive motion, are termed sensitive associations; as when the pectoral and intercostal muscles act in sneezing. And lastly, those, whose introductory link consists of a voluntary motion, are termed voluntary associations; as when the muscles of the lower limbs act in concert with those of the arm in fencing.

C. Associations affected by external Influences.

Circles of associate motions, as well as trains and tribes of them, are liable to be affected by external influences, which consist of etherial fluids, and which, by penetrating the system, act upon it perhaps rather as a causa sine quâ non of its movements, than directly as a stimulus; except when they are accumulated in unusual quantity. We have a sense adapted to the perception of the excess or defect of one of these fluids; I mean that of elementary heat; in which all things are immersed. See Class IV. 1. 4. 7. But there are others of them, which as we have no power to evade their influence, so we have no sense to perceive it; these are the solar, and lunar, and terrestrial gravitation, in which also all things are immersed; the electric aura, which pervades us, and is perpetually varying, See Class IV. 1. 4. 5; the magnetic fluid, Class IV. 1. 4. 5; and lastly, the great life-preserver oxygen gas, and the aqueous vapour of the atmosphere, see Class IV. 1. 4. 6. and 7. and 2.

Of these external influences those of heat, and of gravity, have diurnal periods of increase and decrease; besides their greater periods of monthly or annual variation. The manner in which they act by periodical increments on the system, till some effect is produced, is spoken of in Sect. XXXII. 3. and 6.

D. Associations affected by other Sensorial Motions.

Circles and trains of associate motions are also liable to be affected by their catenations with other sensorial powers, as of irritation, or sensation, or volition; which other sensorial powers either thus simply form some of the links of the catenation, or add to the energy of the associated motions. Thus when vomiting is caused by the stimulus of a stone in the ureter, the sensation of pain seems to be a link of the catenation rather than an efficient cause of the vomiting. But when the capillary vessels of the skin increase their action from the influence of external heat, they are excited both by the stimulus of unusual heat, as well as by the stimulus of the blood, and by their accustomed association with the actions of the heart and arteries. And lastly, in the blush of anger the sensorial power of volition is added to that of association, and irritation, to excite the capillaries of the face with increased action. See Class IV. 2. 3. 5.

E. Associations catenated with Sensation.

Pain frequently accompanies associate trains or circles of motion without its being a cause, or a link, of them, but simply an attendant symptom; though it frequently gives name to the disease, as head-ach. Thus in the cramp of the calves of the legs in diarrhœa, the increased sensorial power of association is the proximate cause; the preceding increased action of the bowels is the remote cause; and the proximate effect is the violent contractions of the musculi gastrocnemii; but the pain of these muscles is only an attendant symptom, or a remote effect. See Sect. XVIII. 15. Other sensitive associations are mentioned in Class IV. 1. 2. and IV. 1. 2. 15.

Thus, if the flushing of the face above mentioned after dinner be called a disease, the immediate or proximate cause is the increased power of association, the remote cause is the increased irritative motions of the stomach in consequence of the stimulus of food and wine. The disease or proximate effect consists in the increased actions of the cutaneous vessels of the face; and the sensation of heat, the existence of heat, and the red colour, are attendants or symptoms, or remote effects, of the increased actions of these cutaneous vessels.

F. Direct and reverse Sympathy.

The increased actions of the primary part of the trains of associated motions are sometimes succeeded by increased actions of the secondary part of the train; and sometimes by decreased actions of it. So likewise the decreased actions of the primary part of a train of associate motions are sometimes succeeded by decreased actions of the secondary part, and sometimes by increased actions of it. The former of these situations is called direct sympathy, and the latter reverse sympathy. In general I believe, where the primary part of the train of associated motions is exerted more than natural, it produces direct sympathy in strong people, and reverse sympathy in weak ones, as a full meal makes some people hot, and others chill. And where the primary part of the train is exerted less than natural, it produces direct sympathy in weak people, and reverse sympathy in strong ones, as on being exposed for a certain length of time on horseback in a cold day gives indigestion and consequent heart-burn to weak people, and strengthens the digestion, and induces consequent hunger in strong ones. See Sect. XXXV. 1.

This may perhaps be more easily understood, by considering strength and weakness, when applied to animal bodies, as consisting in the quantity of sensorial power residing in the contracting fibres, and the quantity of stimulus applied, as shewn in Sect. XII. 2. 1. Now when defective stimulus, within certain limits, is partially applied to parts subject to perpetual motion, the expenditure of sensorial power is for a while lessened, but not its general production in the brain, nor its derivation into the weakly-stimulated part. Hence in strong people, or such whose fibres abound with sensorial power, if the first tribe of an associate train of motions be deprived in part of its accustomed stimulus, its action becomes diminished; and the sensorial power becomes accumulated, and by its superabundance, or overflowing as it were, increases the action of the second tribe of the associate actions by reverse sympathy. As exposing the warm skin for a moderate time to cold air increases the action of the stomach, and thus strengthens the power of digestion.

On the reverse, when additional stimulus within certain limits is partially applied to parts, which are deficient in respect to the natural quantity of sensorial power, the expenditure of sensorial power is increased, but in a less degree than the increased production of it in the brain, or its increased derivation into the strongly-stimulated organ. Hence in weak people, or such whose fibres are deficient of sensorial power, if the first tribe of an associate train of motions be subjected for a while to greater stimulus than usual, a greater production of sensorial power, or a greater derivation of it into the stimulated parts occurs; which by its excess, or overflowing as it were, increases the actions of the second tribe of the associate motions by direct sympathy. Thus when vomiting occurs with cold extremities, a blister on the back in a few hours occasions universal warmth of the skin, and stops the vomiting. And when a diarrhœa occurs with pale skin and cold extremities, the pricking of the points of a flannel shirt, worn next the skin, occasions universal warmth of it, and checks or cures the diarrhœa.

In some associate trains of action nevertheless reverse sympathies more frequently occur than direct ones, and in others direct ones more frequently than reverse ones. Thus in continued fever with debility there appears to be a reverse sympathy between the capillary vessels of the stomach and those of the skin; because there exists a total aversion to solid food, and constant heat on the surface of the body. Yet these two systems of vessels are at other times actuated by direct sympathy, as when paleness attends sickness, or cold feet induces indigestion. This subject requires to be further investigated, as it probably depends not only on the present or previous plus or minus of the sensorial power of association, but also on the introduction of other kinds of sensorial power, as in Class IV. 1. 1. D; or the increased production of it in the brain, or the greater mobility of one part of a train of actions than another.

Thus when much food or wine is taken into the stomach, if there be no superfluity of sensorial power in the system, that is, none to be spared from the continual actions of it, a paleness and chillness succeeds for a time; because now the expenditure of it by the increased actions of the stomach is greater than the present production of it. In a little time however the stimulus of the food and wine increases the production of sensorial power in the brain, and this produces a superfluity of it in the system; in consequence of which the skin now becomes warm and florid, which was at first cold and pale; and thus the reverse sympathy is shortly converted into a direct one; which is probably owing to the introduction of a second sensorial power, that of pleasurable sensation.

On the contrary, when an emetic drug produces sickness, the skin is at first pale for a time by direct sympathy with the capillaries of the stomach; but in a few minutes, by the accumulation of sensorial power in the stomach during its less active state in sickness, the capillaries of the skin, which are associated with those of the stomach, act with greater energy by reverse sympathy, and a florid colour returns. Where the quantity of action is diminished in the first part of a train of motions, whether by previous diminution of sensorial power, or present diminution of stimulus, the second part of the train becomes torpid by direct sympathy. And when the quantity of action of the first part becomes increased by the accumulation of sensorial power during its previous torpor, or by increase of stimulus, the actions of the second part of it likewise become increased by direct sympathy.

In moderate hunger the skin is pale, as before dinner, and in moderate sickness, as no great accumulation of sensorial power has commenced; but in violent hunger, and in greater torpor of the stomach, as from contagious matter, the accumulation of sensorial power becomes so great as to affect the arterial and capillary system, and fever is produced in both cases.

In contagious fevers with arterial debilities commencing with torpor of the stomach, why is the action of the heart weakened, and that of the capillaries increased? Is it because the mobility of the heart is less than that of the stomach, and the mobility of the capillaries greater? Or is it because the association between the muscular fibres of the stomach and those of the heart have been uniformly associated by direct sympathy; and the capillaries of the stomach and those of the skin have been more frequently associated by reverse sympathy?

Where the actions of the stomach have been previously exhausted by long stimulus, as on the day after intoxication, little or no accumulation of sensorial power occurs, during the torpor of the organ, beyond what is required to replace the deficiency of it, and hence fever seldom follows intoxication. And a repetition of the stimulus sometimes becomes necessary even to induce its natural action, as in dram-drinkers.

Where there has been no previous exhaustion of sensorial power, and the primary link of associate motions is violently actuated by the sensorial power of sensation, the secondary link is also violently actuated by direct sympathy, as in inflammatory fevers. Where however the sensorial power of the system is less than natural, the secondary link of associated motions becomes torpid by reverse sympathy, as in the inoculated small-pox during the eruption on the face the feet are frequently cold.

G. Associations affected four Ways.

Hence associated trains or circles of motions may be affected four different ways. 1. By the greater or less energy of action of the first link with which they are catenated, and from which they take their names; as irritative, sensitive, or voluntary associations. 2. By being excited by two or more sensorial powers at the same time, as by irritation and association, as in the instance of the application of the stimulus of increased external heat to the cutaneous capillaries. 3. By catenation with other sensorial powers, as with pain or pleasure, which are in this case not the proximate cause of motion, but which, by becoming a link of catenation, excites the sensorial power of association into action; as the pain at the neck of the gall-bladder occasioned by a gall-stone is transferred to the other end of that canal, and becomes a link of catenation between the action of the two extremities of it. 4. The influence of ethereal fluids, as of heat and gravitation. To which last perhaps might be added moisture and oxygen gas as constituting necessary parts of the system, rather than stimuli to excite it into action.

H. The Origin of Associations.

Some trains or circles of associate motions must have been formed before our nativity, as those of the heart, arteries, and capillaries; others have been associated, as occasion required them, as the muscles of the diaphragm and abdomen in vomiting; and others by perpetual habit, as those of the stomach with the heart and arteries directly, as in weak pulse during sickness; with the capillaries directly, as in the flushed skin after dinner; and lastly, with the cellular absorbents reversely, as in the increased absorption in anasarca during sickness; and with the irritative motions of the organs of sense reversely, as in vertigo, or sea-sickness. Some of these associations shall be here shortly described to facilitate the investigation of others.

First, other congeries of glands occupy but a particular part of the system, or constitute a particular organ, as the liver, or kidneys; but those glands, which secrete the mucus, and perspirable matter, which are called capillaries, are of very great extent; they receive the blood from the arteries, separate from it the mucus, which lines every cell, and covers every cavity of body; and the perspirable matter, which softens and lubricates the whole surface of the skin, and the more extensive surface of the air-vessels, which compose the lungs. These are supplied with blood by the perpetual action of the heart and arteries, and have therefore their motions associated with the former, and with each other, by sympathy, which is sometimes direct, and sometimes reverse.

One branch of this association, the capillaries of the skin, are very irritable by the increased quantities of cold and heat, another branch, that of the lungs, has not the perception of cold and heat, but is liable by direct sympathy to act in concert with the former, as in going into the cold bath. And it is probable the capillaries of the internal membranes are likewise directly affected by their sympathy with those of the skin, as appears from the defect of secretion in ulcers during the cold fits of agues.

The motions of this extensive system of capillaries, thus associated by direct sympathy, are also associated with those of the heart and arteries, sometimes by reverse and sometimes by direct sympathy; and thus constitute simple fever. The cold paroxysm of which consists in their torpor, and the hot one in their orgasm, or increased activity.

I. Of the Action of Vomiting.

The manner, in which the stomach and the diaphragm and abdominal muscles acquire their associate action in vomiting, requires some attention. It is not probable, that this action of vomiting occurs before nativity; as the uniform application of the nutritive liquor amnii to the mouth of the fœtus, and the uniform expenditure of its nourishment, would not seem to give occasion to too great temporary repletion of the stomach; and would preclude the deglutition of any improper material. After nativity the stomach of the child may be occasionally too much distended with milk; as previous hunger may induce it to overgorge itself; and by repeated efforts the act of vomiting is learned, as a means of getting free from a disagreeable sensation. Thus when any disgustful material, as a bitter drug, is taken into the mouth; certain retrograde motions of the tongue and lips are produced, for the purpose of putting the disagreeable material out of the mouth again.

When the stomach is disagreeably stimulated by the distention or acrimony of the aliment, a similar effort to regurgitate it must occur; and by repeated trials the action of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles by squeezing the stomach assists its retrograde exertion to disgorge its contents. In the same manner when a piece of gravel is pushed into the urethra, or a piece of indurated bile into the neck of the gall-bladder, after they have been in vain pressed forward by the usual motions of those ducts, they return into the bladders of gall and urine by the retrograde motions of them.

That this is one mode, in which vomiting is induced, appears from the instantaneous rejection from the stomach occasioned by some nauseous drug, or from some nauseous idea; and lastly, from the voluntary power, which some people have been said to have acquired, of emptying their stomachs, much in the same manner as ruminating animals bring up the grass from their first stomach.

There are nevertheless many modes by which these inverted motions of the stomach and œsophagus are induced, and which it is of consequence to distinguish from each other. The first is the mode above described, where an effort is made to dislodge something, which stimulates the stomach into disagreeable sensation; and which is returned by repeated exertions; as when a nauseous drug is taken into the mouth, or a bit of sand falls into the eye, or a drop of water into the wind-pipe. In this the peristaltic motions of the stomach are first stopped, and then reverted by painful sensation; and the abdominal muscles and diaphragm by repeated efforts become associated with them. Now as less sensorial power is expended on the retrograde actions of the stomach, and of the lymphatics, which open their mouths on its surface, than by their natural motions, an accumulation of sensorial power in the fibres of the stomach follows the exhibition of an emetic, and on that account an emetic will sometimes stop a spontaneous vomiting which was owing to sensorial deficiency. See Sect. XXXV. 1. 3. and Art. V. 2. 1.

As bitters and metallic salts, exhibited in small doses, stimulate the stomach into greater action, as appears by their increasing the power of digestion, and yet become emetic, when given in larger doses; one might suspect, that they became emetic by inducing debility, and consequent retrograde actions of the stomach, by their previously exhausting the sensorial power by their great stimulus; which might be effected in a moment without producing pain, and in consequence without our perceiving it. But on the contrary, there does not in general appear on the exhibition of emetics to be any previous exhaustion of sensorial power; because there is evidently an accumulation of it during the sickness, as appears from the digestion being stronger afterwards; and from the increased action of the cellular and cutaneous absorbents during its operation. See Art. V. 2. 1.

Another mode, by which vomiting is induced, is owing to debility or deficiency of sensorial power, from the previous exhaustion of it; as on the day after intoxication, or which occurs in people enfeebled with the gout, and in dropsy, and in some fevers with debility. In these, when the vomiting ceases, there is no appearance of accumulation of sensorial power, as the digestion still remains weak and imperfect.

Another mode by which sickness or vomiting is induced, is by defect of stimulus, as in great hunger; and in those, who have been habituated to spice and spirit with their meals, who are liable to be sick after taking food without these additional stimuli. Other means of inducing sickness by vertigo, or by nauseous ideas, will be mentioned below.

We shall only add, that the motions of the muscular fibres of the stomach are associated with those of the heart and arteries by direct sympathy, as appears by the weakness of the pulse during the exhibition of an emetic; and that the absorbents of the stomach are associated with the cellular and cutaneous absorbents by reverse sympathy, as is shewn by the great absorption of the mucus of the cells in anasarca during sickness; at the same time that the absorbents of the stomach invert their actions, and pour the mucus and water thus absorbed into that viscus.

In cold paroxysms of fever the stomach partakes of the general torpor, and vomiting is induced by its debility, either by its association with the torpid capillaries, or other torpid parts, or by its own torpor commencing first, and causing the cold fit. The disordered motions of the stomach frequently seem to be the cause or primary seat of fever, as where contagious miasmata are swallowed with the saliva, and where fever is produced by sea-sickness, which I once saw. Nevertheless a disorder of the stomach does not always induce fever, as in that case it should constantly attend indigestion, and vertigo, and sea-sickness; but is itself frequently induced by association with the disordered movements of other parts of the system, as when it arises from gravel in the ureter, or from a percussion on the head.

The connexion of the motions of the stomach with irritative ideas, or motions of the organs of sense, in vertigo, is shewn in Sect. XX. and thus it appears, that many circles of association are either directly or reversely associated, or catenated, with this viscus; which will much contribute to unfold some of the symptoms of fever.

K. Tertian Associations.

The third link of associate trains of motion is sometimes actuated by reverse sympathy, with the second link, and that by reverse sympathy with the first link; so that the first and third link may act by direct sympathy, and the intermediate one by reverse sympathy. Of this instances are given in the syngultus nephriticus, Class IV. 1. 1. 7. and IV. 2. 1. At other times the tertian or quartan links of associate motions are actuated by direct sympathy; and that sometimes forwards and sometimes backwards in respect to the usual order of those trains of associate motions, as in Class IV. 1. 2. 1.

SPECIES.

1. Rubor vultûs prandorum. Flushing of the face after dinner is explained in Sect. XXXV. 1. In the beginning of intoxication the whole skin becomes florid from the association of the actions of the cutaneous arteries with those of the stomach, because vinous spirit excites the fibres of the stomach into more violent action than the stimulus of common food; and the cutaneous capillaries of the face, from their more frequent exposure to the vicissitudes of cold and heat, possess more mobility or irritability than those of other parts of the skin, as further explained in Sect. XXXIII. 2. 10. Vinegar is liable to produce this flushing of the face, which probably is owing to the quantity of vinous spirit it contains, as I believe the unfermented vegetable acids do not produce this effect. In every kind of blush the arterial blood is propelled into the capillaries faster than the venous absorption can carry it forwards into the veins, in this respect resembling the tensio phalli.

Can the beginning vinous or acetous fermentation of the aliment in weak stomachs contribute to this effect? or is it to be ascribed to the greater power of association between the arteries of the face and the fibres of the stomach in some people than in others?

M. M. Eat and drink less at a time, and more frequently. Put 20 drops of weak acid of vitriol into water to be drank at meals. Let the dress over the stomach and bowels be loose. Use no fermented liquors, or vinegar, or spice.

2. Sudor stragulis immersorum. Sweat from being covered in bed. In the commencement of an epidemic fever, in which the perpetual efforts to vomit was a distressing symptom, Dr. Sydenham discovered, that if the patient's head was for a short time covered over with the bed clothes, warmth was produced, and a sweat broke out upon the skin, and the tendency to vomit ceased. In this curious fact two trains of associated motions are excited into increased action. First, the vessels of the lungs are known to have their motion associated with those of the skin by the difficulty of breathing on going into the cold bath, as described in Sect. XXXII. 3. 2. Hence, when the vessels of the lungs become excited into stronger action, by the bad air under the bed clothes, warmed and adulterated by frequent breathing, those of the external skin soon become excited by their association into more energetic action, and generate more heat along with a greater secretion of perspirable matter. Secondly, the sympathy between the stomach and skin is evident in variety of circumstances; thus the cold air of frosty days applied to the skin for a short time increases the action of the stomach by reverse sympathy, but decreases it if continued too long by direct sympathy; so in the circumstance above mentioned the action of the stomach is increased by direct sympathy with that of the skin; and the tendency to vomit, which was owing to its diminished action, ceases.

3. Cessatio ægritudinis cute excitatâ. The cure of sickness by stimulating the skin. This is explained in the preceding article; and further noticed in IV. 2. 2. 4. and in IV. 1. 1. f.

Similar to these is the effect of a blister on the back in relieving sickness, indigestion, and heart-burn; and, on the contrary, by these symptoms being frequently induced by coldness of the extremities. The blister stimulates the cutaneous vessels into greater action; whence warmth and pain are produced at the same time, and the fibres of the stomach are excited into greater action by their association with those of the skin. It does not appear, that the concomitant pain of the blister causes the increased energy of the stomach, because the motions of it are not greater than natural; though it is sometimes difficult to determine, whether the primary part of some associated trains be connected with irritative or sensitive motions.

In the same manner a flannel shirt, to one who has not been in the habit of wearing one, stimulates the skin by its points, and thus stops vomiting in some cases; and is particularly efficacious in checking some chronical diarrhœas, which are not attended with fever; for the absorbents of the skin are thus stimulated into greater action, with which those of the intestines consent by direct sympathy.

This effect cannot be ascribed to the warmth alone of the flannel shirt, as being a covering of loose texture, and confining air in its pores, like a sponge, which air is known to be a bad conductor of heat, since in that case its use should be equally efficacious, if it were worn over a linen shirt; and an increased warmth of the room of the patient would be equally serviceable.

4. Digestio aucta frigore cutaneo. Digestion increased by coldness of the skin. Every one has experienced the increase of his appetite after walking in the cool air in frosty days; for there is at this time not only a saving of sensorial power by the less exertion of the cutaneous vessels; but, as these consent with those of the stomach and bowels, this saving of sensorial power is transferred by reverse sympathy from the cutaneous capillaries and absorbents to those of the stomach and intestines.

Hence weak people should use the cold air of winter as a cold bath; that is, they should stay in it but a short time at once, but should immerse themselves in it many times a day.

5. Catarrhus a frigore cutaneo. Catarrh from cold skin. This has been already explained in Class I. 1. 2. 7. and is further described in Sect. XXXV. 1. 3. In this disease the vessels of the membrane, which lines the nostrils, are excited into greater action; when those of the skin, with which they are associated, are excited into less action by the deficiency of external heat, by reverse sympathy; and though the pain of cold attends the torpor of the primary link of this association, yet the increased motions of the membrane of the nostrils are associated with those of the cutaneous vessels, and not with the pain of them, because no inflammation follows.

6. Absorptio cellularis aucta vomitu. In the act of vomiting the irritative motions of the stomach are inverted, and of the absorbents, which open their mouths into it; while the cutaneous, cellular, and pulmonary absorbents are induced, by reverse sympathy with them, to act with greater energy. This is seen in cases of anasarca, when long sickness and vomiting are caused by squills, or antimonial salts, or most of all by the decoction of digitalis purpurea, foxglove; and Mr. J. Hunter mentions a case, in which a large bubo, which was just ready to break, was absorbed in a few days by sickness at sea. Treatise on the Blood, p. 501, which is thus accounted for; less sensorial power is expended during sickness by the decreased action of the fibres of the stomach, and of its absorbents; as shewn in Sect. XXXV. 1. 3. whence an accumulation of it is produced, and there is in consequence a greater quantity of sensorial power for the exertion of those motions, which are associated with the absorbents of the stomach by reverse sympathy.

The reverse sympathy between the lacteal and lymphatic branches of the absorbent system have been produced by the one branch being less excited to act, when the other supplies sufficient fluid or nutriment to the sanguiferous vessels. Thus when the stomach is full, and the supply of chyle and mucus and water is in sufficient quantity; the pulmonary, cellular, and cutaneous lymphatics are not excited into action; whence the urine is pale, and the skin moist, from the defect of absorption on those surfaces.

7. Syngultus nephriticus. When a stone irritates the ureter, and that even without its being attended with pain or fever, sometimes a chronical hiccough occurs, and continues for days and weeks, instead of sickness or vomiting; which are the common symptoms. In this case the motions of the stomach are decreased by their sympathy with those of the ureter, which are increased by the stimulus of the stone in it; and the increased motions of the diaphragm seem to exist in consequence of their association with the stomach by a second reverse sympathy. This hiccough may nevertheless admit of another explanation, and be supposed to be a convulsive exertion of the diaphragm to relieve the disagreeable sensation of the stomach in consequence of its disordered irritative associations; and in that case it would belong to Class III. 1. 1. See Class IV. 2. 1. for another example of tertiary association.

M. M. Venesection. Emetic. Calomel. Cathartic, opium, oil of cinnamon from two to ten drops. Aerated alcaline water. Peruvian bark.

8. Febris irritativa. Irritative fever, described in Class I. 1. 1. 1. The diseases above explained in this genus are chiefly concerning the sympathies of the absorbent system, or the alimentary canal, which are not so much associated with the arterial system, as to throw it into disorder, when they are slightly deranged; but when any great congeries of conglomerate glands, which may be considered as the extremities of the arterial system, are affected with torpor, the whole arterial system and the heart sympathize with the torpid glands, and act with less energy; which constitutes the cold fit of fever; which is therefore at first a decreased action of the associate organ; but as this decrease of action is only a temporary effect, and an increase of exertion both of the torpid glands, and of the whole arterial system, soon follows; the hot fit of irritative fever, or fever with strong pulse, properly belongs to this class and genus of diseases.

title: Zoonomia/II.IV.I.I