ecomes quick as well as weak; and the heart sometimes trembles like the
limbs of old age, or of enfeebled drunkards; and when this force of the
contractions of the heart and arteries is diminished, the blood is pushed
on with less energy, as well as in less quantity, and thence its stimulus
on their sides is diminished in a duplicate ratio. In compressions of the
brain, as in apoplexy, the pulse becomes slower and fuller; for in that
disease, as in natural sleep, the irritative motions of the heart and
arteries are not diminished, volition alone is suspended or destroyed.

If the absorption of the terminations of the veins is not equally impaired
with the force of the heart and arteries, the blood is taken up by the
veins the instant it arrives at their extremities; the capillary vessels
are left empty, and there is less resistance to the current of the blood
from the arteries; hence the pulse becomes empty, as well as weak and
quick; the veins of the skin are fuller than the arteries of it; and its
appearance becomes pale, bluish, and shrunk. See Class II. 1. 3. 1.

When this pulse persists many hours, it constitutes the febris
inirritativa, or typhus, or nervous fever, of some writers; it is attended
with little heat, the urine is generally of a natural colour, though in
less quantity; with great prostration of strength, and much disturbance of
the faculties of the mind. Its immediate cause seems to be a deficient
secretion of the sensorial power from the inaction of the brain; hence
almost the whole of the sensorial power is expended in the performance of
the motions necessary to life, and little of it can be spared for the
voluntary actions of the locomotive muscles, or organs of sense, see Class
I. 2. 5. 3. Its more remote cause may be from a paralysis or death of some
other part of the body; as of the spleen, when a tumour is felt on the left
side, as in some intermittents; or of the kidnies, when the urine continues
pale and in small quantity. Does the revivescence of these affected parts,
or their torpor, recurring at intervals, form the paroxysms of these
fevers? and their permanent revivescence establish the cure? See Class IV.
2. 1. 19.

M. M. Wine and opium in small quantities repeated every three hours
alternately; small repeated blisters; warm but fresh air; sorbentia;
nutrientia; transfusion of blood. Small electric shocks passed through the
brain in all directions. Oxygene air?

2. _Paresis inirritativ