ate without an
opening on the external habit, as the mesenteric glands, a hectic fever
ensues, which destroys the patient; if they suppurate in the lungs, a
pulmonary consumption ensues, which is believed thus to differ from that
described in the preceding Section, in respect to its seat or proximate
cause.

It is remarkable, that matter produced by suppuration will lie concealed in
the body many weeks, or even months, without producing hectic fever; but as
soon as the wound is opened, so as to admit air to the surface of the
ulcer, a hectic fever supervenes, even in very few hours, which is probably
owing to the azotic part of the atmosphere rather than to the oxygene;
because those medicines, which contain much oxygene, as the calces or
oxydes of metals, externally applied, greatly contribute to heal ulcers, of
these are the solutions of lead and mercury, and copper in acids, or their
precipitates.

Hence when wounds are to be healed by the first intention, as it is called,
it is necessary carefully to exclude the air from them. Hence we have one
cause, which prevents pulmonary ulcers from healing, which is their being
perpetually exposed to the air.

Both the dark-eyed patients, which are affected with pulmonary ulcers from
deficient venous absorption, as described in Section. XXVII. 2. and the
light-eyed patients from deficient lymphatic absorption, which we are now
treating of, have generally large apertures of the iris; these large pupils
of the eyes are a common mark of want of irritability; and it generally
happens, that an increase of sensibility, that is, of motions in
consequence of sensation, attends these constitutions. See Sect. XXXI. 2.
Whence inflammations may occur in these from stagnated fluids more
frequently than in those constitutions, which possess more irritability and
less sensibility.

Great expectations in respect to the cure of consumptions, as well as of
many other diseases, are produced by the very ingenious exertions of DR.
BEDDOES; who has established an apparatus for breathing various mixtures of
airs or gasses, at the hot-wells near Bristol, which well deserves the
attention of the public.

DR. BEDDOES very ingeniously concludes, from the florid colour of the blood
of consumptive patients, that it abounds in oxygene; and that the redness
of their tongues, and lips, and the fine blush of their cheeks shew the
presence of the same principle, like flesh reddened by nitre. And adds,
th