lowed with the saliva, and by its stimulus
inflames the stomach; this variolous inflammation of the stomach increases
every day, like the circle round the puncture of an inoculated arm, till it
becomes great enough to disorder the circles of irritative and sensitive
motions, and thus produces fever-fits, with sickness and vomiting. Lastly,
after the cold paroxysm, or fit of torpor, of the stomach has increased for
two or three successive days, an inflammation of the skin commences in
points; which generally first appear upon the face, as the associated
actions between the skin of the face and that of the stomach have been more
frequently exerted together than those of any other parts of the external
surface.

Contagious matters, as those of the measles and small-pox, do not act upon
the system at the same time; but the progress of that which was last
received is delayed, till the action of the former infection ceases. All
kinds of matter, even that from common ulcers, are probably contagious the
first time they are inserted beneath the cuticle or swallowed into the
stomach; that is, as they were formed by certain morbid actions of the
extremities of the vessels, they have the power to excite similar morbid
actions in the extremities of other vessels, to which they are applied; and
these by sympathy, or associations of motion, excite similar morbid actions
in distant parts of the system, without entering the circulation; and hence
the blood of a patient in the small-pox will not give that disease by
inoculation to others.

When the new fibres or vessels become again absorbed into the circulation,
the inflammation ceases; which is promoted, after sufficient evacuations,
by external stimulants and bandages: but where the action of the vessels is
very great, a mortification of the part is liable to ensue, owing to the
exhaustion of sensorial power; which however occurs in weak people without
much pain, and without very violent previous inflammation; and, like
partial paralysis, may be esteemed one mode of natural death of old people,
a part dying before the whole.

* * * * *

SECT. XXXIV.

DISEASES OF VOLITION.

I. 1. _Volition defined. Motions termed involuntary are caused by
volition. Desires opposed to each other. Deliberation. Ass between two
hay-cocks. Saliva swallowed against one's desire. Voluntary motions
distinguished from those associated with sensitive motions.