previously exposed to great hunger, or to great cold. The accumulated
sensorial power is thrown into so violent exertion, that inflammations and
mortifications supervene, and death closes the catastrophe. In many
diseases this method is the most successful; hence the bark in agues
produces more certain effect after the previous exhibition of emetics. In
diseases attended with violent pain, opium has double the effect, if
venesection and a cathartic have been previously used. On this seems to
have been founded the successful practice of Sydenham, who used venesection
and a cathartic in chlorosis before the exhibition of the bark, steel, and
opiates.

7. Prevent any unnecessary expenditure of sensorial power. Hence in fevers
with debility, a decumbent posture is preferred, with silence, little
light, and such a quantity of heat as may prevent any chill sensation, or
any coldness of the extremities. The pulse of patients in fevers with
debility increases in frequency above ten pulsations in a minute on their
rising out of bed. For the expenditure of sensorial power to preserve an
erect posture of the body adds to the general deficiency of it, and thus
affects the circulation.

8. The longer in time and the greater in degree the quiescence or inertion
of an organ has been, so that it still retains life or excitability, the
less stimulus should at first be applied to it. The quantity of stimulation
is a matter of great nicety to determine, where the torpor or quiescence of
the fibres has been experienced in a great degree, or for a considerable
time, as in cold fits of the ague, in continued fevers with great debility,
or in people famished at sea, or perishing with cold. In the two last
cases, very minute quantities of food should be first supplied, and very
few additional degrees of heat. In the two former cases, but little
stimulus of wine or medicine, above what they had been lately accustomed