he absorbent system are known to be much increased by the
hasty absorption of the serous fluid in anasarca, the pulsations of the
heart become slow and intermittent to an alarming degree. See Class IV. 2.
1. 17. and 18.

10. It would assist us much in the knowledge and cure of fevers, if we
could always determine, which part of the system was primarily affected;
and whether the torpor of it was from previous excess or defect of
stimulus; which the industry of future observers must discover. Thus if the
stomach be affected primarily, and that by previous excess of stimulus, as
when certain quantities of opium, or wine, or blue vitriol, or arsenic, are
swallowed, it is some time in recovering the quantity of sensorial power
previously exhausted by excess of stimulus, before any accumulation of it
can occur. But if it be affected with torpor secondarily, by sympathy with
some distant part; as with the torpid capillaries of the skin, that is by
defective excitement of the sensorial power of association; or if it be
affected by defect of stimulus of food or of heat; it sooner acquires so
much accumulation of sensorial power, as to be enabled to accommodate
itself to its lessened stimulus by increase of its irritability.

Thus in the hemicrania the torpor generally commences in a diseased tooth,
and the membranes about the temple, and also those of the stomach become
torpid by direct synchronous sympathy; and pain of the head, and sickness
supervene; but no fever or quickness of pulse. In this case the torpor of
the stomach is owing to defect of the sensorial power of association, which
is caused by the too feeble actions of the membranes surrounding the
diseased tooth, and thus the train of sympathy ceases here without
affecting the motions of the heart and arteries; but where contagious
matter is swallowed into the stomach, the stomach after a time becomes
torpid from exhaustion of the sensorial power of irritation, and the heart
and arteries act feebly from defect of the excitement of the power of
association. In the former case the torpor of the stomach is conquered by
accumulation of the power of association in one or two whole days; in the
latter it recovers by accumulation of the power of irritation in three or
four weeks.

In intermittent fevers the stomach is generally I believe affected
secondarily by sympathy with the torpid cutaneous capillaries, or with some
internal torpid viscus, and on this account an accumul