actions of the cutaneous capillaries
and absorbents. The actions of the stomach may sometimes be increased by
exhibiting a mild emetic; as an accumulation of sensorial power in the
fibres of the stomach is produced during their retrograde actions. Besides
the evacuation of any noxious material from the stomach and duodenum, and
from the absorbents, which open their mouths on their internal surfaces, by
their retrograde motion.

It is probable, that when mild emetics are given, as ipecacuanha, or
antimonium tartarizatum, or infusion of chamomile, they are rejected by an
inverted motion of the stomach and oesophagus in consequence of
disagreeable sensation, as dust is excluded from the eye; and these actions
having by previous habit been found effectual, and that hence there is no
exhaustion of the sensorial power of irritation. But where strong emetics
are administered, as digitalis, or contagious matter, the previous
exhaustion of the sensorial power of irritation seems to be a cause of the
continued retrograde actions and sickness of the stomach. An emetic of the
former kind may therefore strengthen the power of the stomach immediately
after its operation by the accumulation of sensorial power of irritation
during its action. See Class IV. 1. 1.

Another method of decreasing the action of the stomach for a time, and
thence of increasing it afterwards, is by the accumulation of the sensorial
power of irritation during its torpor; is by giving ice, iced water, iced
creams, or iced wine. This accounts for the pleasure, which many people in
fevers with weak pulse express on drinking cold beverage of any kind.

A second method of exciting the stomach into action, and of decreasing that
of the capillaries in consequence, is by the stimulus of wine, opium, bark,
metallic salts of antimony, steel, copper, arsenic, given in small repeated
quantities; which so long as they render the pulse slower are certainly of
service, and may be given warm or cold, as most agreeable to the patient.
For it is possible, that the capillaries of the stomach may act too
violently, and produce heat, at the same time that the large muscles of it
may be in a torpid state; which curious circumstance future observations
must determine.

Thirdly. Hot fomentation on the region of the stomach might be of most
essential service by its stimulus, as heat penetrates the system not by the
absorbent vessels, but by external influence; whence the use of hot