p the excitement rather
under the middle point, or 40 degrees, than above it. During the
predisposition to sthenic disease, which is produced by the longer
continued, or increased action of these powers, no symptoms of
disease appear; but shortly after, disturbed sleep, depressed
spirits, languor, a sense of fulness, heaviness, particularly after
eating, show that this sthenic state cannot be further increased with
impunity. The least increase of sthenic diathesis now brings on a
disturbance of the functions, or actual disease; the commencement of
which is generally a shivering, and a sense of cold; thirst and heat
succeed; and then generally a pain in some part, either external or
internal: costiveness generally attends this state, the urine is
clear, and secreted in small quantity; memory and imagination become
diminished, and there is generally less appetite for food.

In peripneumony, inflammatory sore throat, and acute rheumatism,
there is an inflamed condition of the lungs, of the parts about the
throat, or of the muscles of the extremities: this shows that the
excitement here is greater than in other parts of the body; but it is
still increased or too great in every part, only those parts which
give the peculiar character to the disease are more affected than
other parts of the body, by being more exposed to the exciting
causes: thus, if a person be in perfect health, or a little below, he
will not be easily affected by any of the exciting causes of sthenic
disease, unless their application be very violent; he will go into a
warm room out of the cold air, and feel no other effect than a
pleasant glow: but if, by high living, or other means, he is brought
near the point of predisposition to sthenic disease, then the
slightest additional stimulus will bring it on, and if the throat has
been exposed to the application of cold, and the person comes
afterwards into a heated room, an inflammation of the parts about the
throat, or an inflammatory sore throat, accompanied by a sthenic
diathesis of the whole system, will be the consequence. This cannot
be cured by merely diminishing the excitement of the part, while the
excitement of the whole system remains: if we apply leeches to the
throat in this state, to diminish the quantity of blood, we only
debilitate the vessels, while fresh quantities of blood are poured
into them from the too full vessels of the body; even if we could
thus remove the sthenic diathesis of the