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the ftimulated fibres; in the fame manner as it is produced by the increased irritability which was occafioned by a previous defect of ftimulus; yet as the exceffes of irritation from the ftimulus of external things are more easily avoided than the deficiencies of it; the diseases of this country, except those which are the consequen→ ces of drunkenness, or of immoderate exercife, more frequently begin with torpor than with orgafin; that is, with inactivity of fome parts, or of the whole of the fyftem, and confequent coldnefs, than with increased activity, and consequent heat.' P. 13.

Many of the questions at iffue, not merely between us, but between the world in general and the author are connected with this. Is the heat that follows cold applications, the refult of accumulated irritability, or of the action of that principle in our conftitution, which we diftinguith by the terms vis vitæ The decifion will go fome way in determining a point of greater importance; viz. is the animal body a machine, acting neceffarily from a peculiar ftructure and organisation, or acting rationally and inftinctively to a given end? The leading principle, that irritability may be accumulated from inac tion, we have acknowledged. We fee it in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, in the human body after fleep, and in difeafes of torpor and languid circulation, which, when overcome, foon change into thofe of an oppofite tendency, and deftroy even by exhaufting excitability. We put the question ftrongly, and admit largely; but we affert that this general principle will not apply to other changes, whether as difeafes, or within the limits of health. We know that there is a principle in the human body which corrects deviations, and that it acts with a view to an end; for it repairs defects, agglutinates bones, even unites nerves, fo as to preferve their functions, and does this not blindly and mechanically; for it accumulates the added part beyond the ufual portion, to fupply, by its additional refiftance, the debility which would otherwise refult from the altered direction, or lefs compactnefs. The fame principle probably operates in reftoring heat to a part previoufly cooled; and we think this principle acts rather than that formerly stated. In every inftance of accumulated irritability, fome time is required, and the rapidity of the action is proportioned to the time. If, on the other hand, we plunge the body into cold water, the quantity of irritability, for a moment, fuppreffed, is not equal to the increafed action excited; and if the latter is augmented by medicine or exercise, or the cold is very violent and of fhort continuance, the re-action is morbidly ftrong. The whole of the irritability, loft in the common way in the interval, would be trifling, fo that there must be fomething to produce the overflow, beûides checking

the current. Befides, we have no fair inftance of partial ac cumulated irritability: the irritability of the whole is accumu lated in every cafe, or at least it appears in the whole fyftem after a partial fuppreffion. The phænomena of fyncope deftroy alfo the application of this doctrine in every instance, even with refpect to general irritability. A perfon lies in a fainting fit; but, though the irritability must be confiderably accumulated, no increased action comes on when he recovers. It will perhaps be faid in reply, that this circumstance is occafioned by a morbid state of the brain; but does not this show that the brain is concerned in every cafe of increased irritabili❤ ty from accumulation?

If the hot fit be the confequence of the cold one, it may be afked if they are proportionate to each other: it is probable that they are, where no part is deftroyed by the cold fit, as in mortification or death. But we have no measure to distinguish this, except the time of their duration; whereas the extent of the torpor over a greater or lefs part of the fyftem, which occafions the cold fit; or of the exertion which occafions the hot one; as well as the degree of fuch torpor or exertion, are perhaps more material than the time of their duration. Befides this fome muscles are lefs liable to accumulate fenforial power during their torpor, than others, as the locomotive mufcles compared with the capillary arteries; on all which accounts a long cold fit may often be followed by a short hot one.' P. 14.

In this argument we find a want' of difcrimination, which may be accidental, but which, if obferved, would have been fatal to the whole fyftem-we mean the diftinction between coldness and rigor. Dr. Darwin thinks, that, if properly obferved, the cold would be found proportional to the heat, either in intenfity or duration. If coldnefs, fimply, is meant, this position is not well-founded. The flow fevers and the more malignant typhi, which are attended with little heat, are preceded by long-continued cold; the inflammatory fevers. fcarcely by any. The rigor, in the former, is flight; in the latter, very violent. If the rigor be confidered as a part of the cold fit, the pofition is equally unfounded; for, in intermittents, it is long; in the common epidemics of autumn, it is fhort. In fevers, therefore, the hot fit cannot be the effect of the cold, from accumulated irritability, unless the effect is greatly difproportioned to the caufe. Befides, in this view, all the fymptoms are not confidered. Dr. Fordyce has very properly obferved, that, in every attack of fever, there is fome alienation of mind. As a fymptom fo important conftantly precedes, we cannot fuppofe that it is deftitute of influence; nor has it ever been fufpected that the mental functions are the con

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fequences of irritability. Dr. Darwin afterwards notices the vivacity and fpirits on the commencement of the hot fit; but we fufpect that he mistakes the fource. In the change from the cold to the hot fit, there are fome moments of equilibrium. The patient feels himself relieved and reftored, and his spirits, are of course lively; but, when the hot fit is formed, a heavi nefs and uneafinefs accompany it, which are very different from the ufual effects of wine.

This difcuffion has anticipated every remark that we had to offer on the firft genus. After each species, the methodus médendi is fhortly added. As the remedies are stated generally, they afford no fubject of particular obfervation.

The fpecies of the fecond

1. Calor febrilis. 2. Rubor febrilis. 3. Sudor calidus. Sudor febrilis. a labore.

ab igne.

- a medicamentis.

4. Urina uberior colorata.

5. Diarrhea calida.

febrilis.

crapulofa.

infantum.

6. Salivatio calida. 7. Catarrhus calidus. 8. Expectoratio calida. 9. Exfudatio pone aures. 10. Gonorrhea calida. 11. Fluor albus calidus. 12. Hæmorrhoïs alba. 13. Serum è veficatorio. 14. Perfpiratio fœtida. 15. Crines novi.

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On thefe fubjects much novelty cannot be expected; but there are feveral ingenious and useful remarks, intermixed with fome which are feerningly fanciful. It is not a new obfervation, that the curdling of milk in the ftomachs of children is not hurtful on the contrary, it seems to be the neceffary preparative to digeftion; but it is certainly not curdled by the acid juices. Children, who difcharge milk uncurdled, are generally indifpofed; and the ftomachs of young animals, though washed even with an alkaline water, continue to act as rennets. It is a judicious remark, that children, brought up without the breast, should be fed in an upright posture; as,

in a recumbent one, every thing must be swallowed, though the appetite should be fatisfied. A small blifter, on the pit of the ftomach of a child, is fuppofed to promote digeftion.

We must enter a caveat againft one pernicious opinion. We allude to what is faid of the perfpiratio foetida, where the author takes occafion to obferve, that the utility of perfpiration is to lubricate the fkin, and that the fuppreffion of perfpiration is by no means dangerous, as whole nations have lubricated, and many tribes ftill lubricate, their bodies with greafe. The admiffion of this principle may be dangerous, as it may lead perfons to fuppofe, that, if the perfpirable matter may be innocently repelled, its excefs, if not foetid, may be checked with equal impunity. Numerous facts, which fhow this to be a dangerous error, have occurred to us and other practitioners. We know that the perfpirable matter is thrown out with fome impetus, and we do not know that the greafe of the Hottentots will reprefs it; and, at all events, a custom begun in childhood may be innocent, when one fuddenly taken up may prove highly injurious. An European of the fouth cannot, like a hardy Ruffian, leap from his ftove into the fnow with impunity.

The third genus contains the following fpecies;

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Here we may obferve, that, if the ftudent of Dr. Darwin finds the conftipatio alvi, cutis arida, urina parcior colorata, in a man of seventy, he will, by every poffible method, attempt to diminish the action of the abforbing fyftem; but, unlefs he increases the action of the fecretory organs, and violently ftimulates the moving fibres of the inteftines, the fkin, and the kidneys, his patient muft inevitably die. It is ufelefs to say, that these are diseases of increased irritation, and that the irritation must therefore be diminished. The whole arifes from the oppofite state of torpor. No difplay of ingenuity'

can atone for mischief which may be thus widely diffeminated; and, when life is at ftake, an author fhould not attempt to fhow how ingenious, but how ufeful, he may be.

The fpecies of the fourth genus are—

1. Nicitatio irritativa.
2. Deglutitio irritativa.

3. Refpiratio et tufis.
4. Exclufio bilis.
5. Dentitio.

6. Priapifmus.

7. Diftenfio mammularum.

8. Defcenfus uteri.

9. Prolapfus ani.

10. Lumbricus.

11. Tania.

12. Afcarides.
$3. Dracunculus.

14. Morpiones.

Irritative nictitation.

Irritative deglutition.

Refpiration and cough.

Exclufion of the bile.
Toothing.
Priapism.

Diftention of the nipples..
Descent of the uterus.
Descent of the rectum..
Round worm.

Tape-worm.

Thread-worms.

Guinea-worm.

Crab-lice.

15. Pediculi.

Lice.'

P. 5.

Under this genus, the most important obfervations relate to worms. All the inteftinal worms, Dr. Darwin thinks, are introduced ab extra; and he attributes their increase to a too dilute state of the bile. Every fact feems to fhow that the lumbricus is congenial, if not neceffary to the growing state, and that it is incidentally only the caufe of difeafe. The tænia is faid to be cured by an amalgam of tin and quickfilver, in the proportions used for filvering mirrors. An ounce is taken every two hours, till a pound is confumed; and the whole is worked off by a very brifk purgative of falts. This remedy is fuppofed to act mechanically. The fern-root powder our author confiders as ufelefs. It has been remarked, however, by an ingenious author, that a perfon who took it brought off large portions of a tænia dead, though thefe worms were before voided alive. As one kind of afcarides cannot live in a low temperature, Dr. Darwin fuggefts the utility of iced water clyfters, as well as clyfters of Harrowgate water. Stronger folutions of hepar fulphuris may be employed; and we have found, we think, great benefit from injections of a solution of afa fætida.

The fpecies of the fifth

1. Vifus acrior.

2. Auditus acrior,

3. Olfactus acrior. 4. Guftus acrior. 5. Tactus acrior.

genus are

Acuter fight.
hearing,
finell.

Acuter tafte.
touch

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