from the exhaustion occasioned by
violent fatigue, or by those chronic diseases in which the digestion is
much impaired; as where the stomach has been long affected with the gout or
schirrus; or in the paralysis of the liver, as described in Sect. XXX.
Hence a paroxysm of gout is liable to recur on bleeding or purging; as the
torpor of some viscus, which precedes the inflammation of the foot, is thus
induced by the want of the stimulus of distention. And hence the
extremities of the body, as the nose and fingers, are more liable to become
cold, when we have long abstained from food; and hence the pulse is
increased both in strength and velocity above the natural standard after a
full meal by the stimulus of distention.

However, this stimulus of distention, like the stimulus of heat above
described, though it contributes much to the due action not only of the
heart, arteries, and alimentary canal, but seems necessary to the proper
secretion of all the various glands; yet perhaps it is not the sole cause
of any of these numerous motions: for as the lacteals, cutaneous
absorbents, and the various glands appear to be stimulated into action by
the peculiar pungency of the fluids they absorb, so in the intestinal canal
the pungency of the digesting aliment, or the acrimony of the faeces, seem
to contribute, as well as their bulk, to promote the peristaltic motions;
and in the arterial system, the momentum of the particles of the
circulating blood, and their acrimony, stimulate the arteries, as well as
the distention occasioned by it. Where the pulse is small this defect of
distention is present, and contributes much to produce the febris
irritativa pulsu debili, or irritative fever with weak pulse, called by
modern writers nervous fever, as a predisponent cause. See Sect. XII. 1. 4.
Might not the transfusion of blood, suppose of four ounces daily from a
strong man, or other healthful animal, as a sheep or an ass, be used in the
early state of nervous or putrid fevers with great prospect of success?

V. 1. The defect of the momentum of the particles of the circulating blood
is another cause of the quiescence, with which the cold fits of fever
commence. This stimulus of the momentum of the progressive particles of the
blood does not act over the whole body like those of heat and distention
above described, but is confined to the arterial system; and differs from
the stimulus of the distention of the blood, as much as the vibrat