rsing about
another, he is liable to use the word of a contrary meaning to that which
he designed, as cold weather for hot weather, summer for winter.

6. A certain quantity of stimulus, less than that above mentioned, is
succeeded by paralysis, first of the voluntary and sensitive motions, and
afterwards of those of irritation, and of association, which constitutes
death.

VI. _Cure of increased Exertion._

1. The cure, which nature has provided for the increased exertion of any
part of the system, consists in the consequent expenditure of the sensorial
power. But as a greater torpor follows this exhaustion of sensorial power,
as explained in the next paragraph, and a greater exertion succeeds this
torpor, the constitution frequently sinks under these increasing librations
between exertion and quiescence; till at length complete quiescence, that
is, death, closes the scene.

For, during the great exertion of the system in the hot fit of fever, an
increase of stimulus is produced from the greater momentum of the blood,
the greater distention of the heart and arteries, and the increased
production of heat, by the violent actions of the system occasioned by this
augmentation of stimulus, the sensorial power becomes diminished in a few
hours much beneath its natural quantity, the vessels at length cease to
obey even these great degrees of stimulus, as shewn in Sect. XL. 9. 1. and
a torpor of the whole or of a part of the system ensues.

Now as this second cold fit commences with a greater deficiency of
sensorial power, it is also attended with a greater deficiency of stimulus
than in the preceding cold fit, that is, with less momentum of blood, less
distention of the heart. On this account the second cold fit becomes more
violent and of longer duration than the first; and as a greater
accumulation of sensorial power must be produced before the system of
vessels will again obey the diminished stimulus, it follows, that the
second hot fit of fever will be more violent than the former one. And that
unless some other causes counteract either the violent exertions in the hot
fit, or the great torpor in the cold fit, life will at length be
extinguished by the expenditure of the whole of the sensorial power. And
from hence it appears, that the true means of curing fevers must be such as
decrease the action of the system in the hot fit, and increase it in the
cold fit; that is, such as prevent the too great diminution of senso