4. Excite into greater action some other part of the system, by which means
the spirit of animation may be in part expended, and thence the inordinate
actions of the diseased part may be lessened. Hence when a part of the skin
acts violently, as of the face in the eruption of the small-pox, if the
feet be cold they should be covered. Hence the use of a blister applied
near a topical inflammation. Hence opium and warm bath relieve pains both
from excess and defect of stimulus.

5. First increase the general stimulation above its natural quantity, which
may in some degree exhaust the spirit of animation, and then decrease the
stimulation beneath its natural quantity. Hence after sudorific medicines
and warm air, the application of refrigerants may have greater effect, if
they could be administered without danger of producing too great torpor of
some part of the system; as frequently happens to people in health from
coming out of a warm room into the cold air, by which a topical
inflammation in consequence of torpor of the mucous membrane of the nostril
is produced, and is termed a cold in the head.

VII. _Cure of decreased Exertion._

1. Where the exertion of the sensorial powers is much decreased, as in the
cold fits of fever, a gradual accumulation of the spirit of animation takes
place; as occurs in all cases where inactivity or torpor of a part of the
system exists; this accumulation of sensorial power increases, till stimuli
less than natural are sufficient to throw it into action, then the cold fit
ceases; and from the action of the natural stimuli a hot one succeeds with
increased activity of the whole system.

So in fainting fits, or syncope, there is a temporary deficiency of