mmediately on immersion
of the skin into cold water; yet in some situations an orgasm or excess of
action is produced in the first link of the associated motions thus
catenated with irritative ones; as in the increased action of the stomach,
when the skin is for a time exposed to cold air; which may in part be
ascribed to the general increase of action of the whole system, owing to
the diminished expenditure of sensorial power, but particularly of the
parts, which have habitually acted together; as when one arm is paralytic
the other is liable to more frequent or almost continual motion; and when
one eye becomes blind the other frequently becomes stronger; which is well
known to farriers, who are said sometimes to destroy the sight of one eye
to strengthen that of the other in diseased horses.

Hence there is sometimes a direct sympathy, and sometimes a reverse one
succeeds the torpor occasioned by defect of stimulus, the latter of which
is perhaps owing to a certain time being required for the production of an
accumulation of the sensorial power of irritation by the nervous branches
of the torpid organ; which accumulation is now in part or entirely derived
to the next link of the association. Thus in going into a coldish bath, as
into a river in the summer months, we at first experience a difficulty of
breathing from the torpid action of the pulmonary capillaries, owing to the
deficient excitement of the sensorial power of association in consequence
of the torpor of the cutaneous capillaries. But in a very short time, as in
one minute, the sensorial power of irritation becomes accumulated by the
inactivity of the cutaneous capillaries; and as its superabundance becomes
now expended on the pulmonary capillaries, the difficult respiration
ceases; though the cutaneous capillaries continue torpid by their contact
with the cold water, and consequently the sensorial power of association,
which used to contribute to actuate the pulmonary capillaries, is less
excited.

8. In like manner when there exists an accumulation of the sensorial power
of association, owing to defect of its excitement by some previous
irritative or associate motions, it is generally accompanied for a certain
time by a torpor not only of the link first affected, but of the subsequent
parts, or of the whole train of associated motions, as in the cold fits of
intermittent fevers. Yet after a time an increased action of the next links
of associated motions