omentation;
secondly, increasing the stimulus of heat by long continued warm
fomentation; thirdly, by electricity, as very small shocks passed through
it in all directions; and lastly by blisters on the head. All those require
to be used with great caution, and especially where there exists an evident
stupor, as the removing of that is I believe frequently injurious. See
stupor, Class I. 2. 5. 10.

The cure of fever with strong pulse consists in the repeated use of
venesection, gentle cathartics, diluents; medicines producing sickness, as
antimonials, digitalis; or the respiration of carbonated hydrogen; or by
respiration of atmospheric air lowered by a mixture of hydrogen, azote, or
carbonic acid gas, or by compressing the brain by whirling in a decumbent
posture, as if lying across an horizontal mill-stone. See the former parts
of this supplement for the methods of cure both of fevers with strong and
weak pulse.

10. When any difficulty occurs in determining the weak pulse from the
strong one, it may generally be assisted by counting its frequency. For
when an adult patient lies horizontally in a cool room, and is not hurried
or alarmed by the approach of his physician, nor stimulated by wine or
opium, the strong pulse seldom exceeds 118 or 120 in a minute; and the weak
pulse is generally not much below 130, and often much above that number.
Secondly in sitting up in bed, or changing the horizontal to a
perpendicular posture, the quickness of the weak pulse is liable
immediately to increase 10 or 20 pulsations in a minute, which does not I
believe occur in the strong pulse, when the patient has rested himself
after the exertion of rising.

XVII. _Conclusion._

Thus have I given an outline of what may be termed the sympathetic theory
of fevers, to distinguish it from the mechanic theory of Boerhaave, the
spasmodic theory of Hoffman and of Cullen, and the putrid theory of
Pringle. What I have thus delivered, I beg to be considered rather as
observations and conjectures, than as things explained and demonstrated; to
be considered as a foundation and a scaffolding, which may enable future
industry to erect a solid and a beautiful edifice, eminent both for its
simplicity and utility, as well as for the permanency of its
materials,--which may not moulder, like the structures already erected,
into the sand of which they were composed; but which may stand unimpaired,
like the Newtonian philosophy, a rock amid the waste of