he tongue, especially its middle
part, is dry, and covered with a crust of indurated mucus; as these
indicate the increased action of the pulmonary capillaries; in the same
manner as the dry and hot skin indicates the orgasm of the cutaneous
capillaries; and the emaciation of the body that of the cellular ones.

For this purpose of abating the action of the capillaries by frequent
ablution or fomentation, water of any degree of heat beneath that of the
body will be of service, and ought in accurate language to be called a cold
bath; but the degree of coldness, where the patient is sensible, should in
some measure be governed by his sensations; as it is probable, that the
degree of coldness, which is most grateful to him, will also be of the
greatest benefit to him. See Class III. 2. 1. 12. and Article 15 of this
Supplement.

Another great use of frequent ablutions, or fomentations, or baths, in
fevers, where the stomach is in some degree torpid, is to supply the system
with aqueous fluid by means of the cutaneous absorbents; which is
dissipated faster by the increased action of the secerning capillaries,
than the stomach can furnish, and occasions great thirst at the intervals
of the sickness.

IX. _Torpor of the Lungs._

1. The lungs in many cases of contagion may first be affected with torpor,
and the skin become cold by sympathy; in the same manner as a cold skin on
going into the cold bath induces difficulty of breathing. Or the stomach
may become affected with torpor by its sympathy with the lungs, as in the
experiments of Mr. Watt with hydro-carbonate gas; a few respirations of
which induced sickness, and even syncope. When the stomach or skin is thus
affected secondarily by association, an accumulation of sensorial power
occurs much sooner, than when these parts become torpid in consequence of
previous excess of stimulus; and hence they sooner recover their accustomed
action, and the fever ceases. The particles of contagious matter thus
received by respiration somewhat resemble in their effects the acid gases
from burning sulphur, or from charcoal; which, if they do not instantly
destroy, induce a fever, and the patient slowly recovers.

2. I was some years ago stooping down to look, which way the water oozed
from a morass, as a labourer opened it with a spade, to detect the source
of the spring, and inhaled a vapour, which occasioned an instant sense of
suffocation. Immediately recoiling I believe I inhaled