iva sometimes
occurs, which has been thought critical; but as it continues sometimes two
or even three weeks without the relief of the patient, it may be concluded
to arise from some accidental circumstance, perhaps not unsimilar to the
hysteric ptyalisms mentioned in Class I. 3. 2. 2. See Sect. XXIV.

M. M. Cool air, diluents, warm bath, evacuations.

7. _Catharrhus calidus._ Warm catarrh. Consists in an increased secretion
of mucus from the nostrils without inflammation. This disease, which is
called a cold in the head, is frequently produced by cold air acting for
some time on the membranes, which line the nostrils, as it passes to the
lungs in respiration. Whence a torpor of the action of the mucous glands is
first introduced, as in I. 2. 3. 3. and an orgasm or increased action
succeeds in consequence. Afterwards this orgasm and torpor are liable to
alternate with each other for some time like the cold and hot fits of ague,
attended with deficient or exuberant secretion of mucus in the nostrils.

At other times it arises from reverse sympathy with some extensive parts of
the skin, which have been exposed too long to cold, as of the head, or
feet. In consequence of the torpor of these cutaneous capillaries those of
the mucous membrane of the nostrils act with greater energy by reverse
sympathy; and thence secrete more mucus from the blood. At the same time
the absorbents, acting also with greater energy by their reverse sympathy
with those of some distant part of the skin, absorb the thinner parts of
the mucus more hastily; whence the mucus is both thicker and in greater
quantity. Other curious circumstances attend this disease; the membrane
becomes at times so thickened by its increased action in secreting the
mucus, that the patient cannot breathe through his nostrils. In this
situation if he warms his whole skin suddenly by fire or bed-clothes, or by
drinking warm tea, the increased action of the membrane ceases by its
reverse sympathy with the skin; or by the retraction of the sensorial power
to other parts of the system; and the patient can breathe again through the
nostrils. The same sometimes occurs for a time on going into the cold air
by the deduction of heat from the mucous membrane, and its consequent
inactivity or torpor. Similar to this when the face and breast have been
very hot and red, previous to the eruption of the small-pox by inoculation,
and that even when exposed to cool air, I have observed the