becomes frequent, but
the capillaries of the skin act more violently by reverse sympathy with the
heart and arteries, owing to the accumulation of the sensorial power of
association in them during their torpid state, as occurs in irritative
fever. See Article 11 of this Supplement.

In apepsia chronica the actions of the stomach are not so far impaired or
destroyed as totally to prevent the excitation of the sensorial power of
association, which therefore contributes something towards the actions of
the heart and arteries, though less than natural, as a weak pulse always I
believe attends this disease.

There is a torpor of the stomach, and of the upper part of the alimentary
canal in hysteria, as is evident from the retrograde actions of the
duodenum, stomach, and oesophagus, which constitute the globus hystericus,
or sensation of a globe rising into the throat. But as these retrograde
actions are less than those, which induce sickness or vomiting, and are not
occasioned by previous exhaustion of the sensorial power of irritation,
they do not so totally prevent the excitement of the sensorial power of
association, as to lessen the motion of the heart and arteries so much as
to induce fever; yet in this case, as in apepsia, and in chlorosis, the
pulsations of the heart and arteries are weaker than natural, and are
sometimes attended with occasionally increased action of the capillaries;
as appears from the flushings of the face, and hot skin, which generally
form an evening febricula in diseases attended with weak digestion.

12. The increased action, or orgasm, of the cutaneous, pulmonary, and
cellular capillaries, with their secerning and absorbent vessels, in those
fevers which are attended with deficiency of vital action, exhausts the
patient both by the additional expenditure of sensorial power on those
organs of secretion, and by the too great absorption of the mucus and fat
of the body; whence great debility and great emaciation. Hence one great
indication of cure of continued fever with arterial debility is to diminish
the too great action of the capillaries; which is to be done by frequent
ablutions, or bathing the whole skin in tepid or in cold water, as
recommended by Dr. Currie of Liverpool (Philos. Trans. for 1792), for half
an hour, twice a day, or at those times when the skin feels dryest and
hottest. Much cool air should also be admitted, when the breath of the
patient feels hot to one's hand; or when t