Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-07-18

has been as little understood, as the tdao
Of health. and-the practice of physic is,
alas in the same predicament. =
When Doctor Cullen sfeaks ofthe re-
action Of the systrm, il he means the re-
action Of the kaW established for the go
vernment Of animation, the idea Is futile,
and was unworthy Of place ID the mind
of j, professor Of physic. If he does not
mean reaction Of this laIo, he can mean
nothing and a reaction Of this la,v can
not possibly take place without an imnne-
diate cessation ofiife. The spasn which
he supposed formed upon the arteriatex-
tremities, rs a necessary link in the chain
Of causes producing fever, is equally ab.
surd, as the actual circulation atthe time,
is prosf of the futility of the idea. ::
The notion Of the arterial system, as
i. is expressed, being under any, cireuni.
stances Of the body, convulsed, Is Of
difficult estimation. There 10 no
phenomina, incident to the human body,
either id health or sickness, upon which,
such an idea might, with the least pro-
priety, or consistency, have been foun-
ded. The whole vascular system, must,
forever, remain free from spasms or
eonvulsions and, can, of itself, never
be the cause Of fever. The apparent
conyulsion ofthe arterial section. it there
is any such, appearance, Is an feet and
not cause. Its productive of nothing.
When spasms or convuisions exist in
relation to the arterial section, they are
to be considered as irregularities In the
muscular action, which viii, neees.
sarily, produce Irregularities in the
efiux of the venous section; aud, con-
sequently. Irregularities in pulsation.
An irregular pulse, is certain indicati.
onof irregular action, as the reaction,
which proceeds from the heart, viii cor.
respond, and be in exact conformity, to
il. To the. existence pffeyer, ii Is re-
quisite, that the aetion should be, not
only complete; it must b entire, and
INCREASED. BY this encreased action,
the efRnsafths .yenous section will be
INCREASED both in quantity and rapidity /;
and the arterial section viii be oyer.im-
pleted. This is the condition of the vas
cular system in fever, and this is. in a
lesser degree, the plethora Of physicians.
There was nothing ever introduced into
the systems of medicine, more absurd,
than this notion of a plefhora. It may be
found in all medical writings, and even
In that boasted performance Of Doctor
Brown. A plethora can exist only 10
the arterial section, and Is . higher de-
gree Examination than is compatible with
health and, If the inaux. should still
continue to increase the action this viii
increase the efiux; and 4 fever viii be
the consequence. The sfflux and influx
of the vsnous section governs all the phe-
nomina oflife, Il is this that gives &C.
ton and reaction to the muscular system.
The action ihpels the fluids through the
veins TO the heart, and the reaction from
the heart into the capillary veins, and
the escret0ry section. A plethora Of the
whole vascular system never did, nor
never can exist. II IS Just a. absurd to
suppose too much blood, as il IS to sup
pose too much fife and because a,fever
exists to. tall Of d plethora. A plethora
and fever is the same things; differing
only IN degree. They both exist in the
arterial section only and both appear,
and disappear, IN every febrile pafoxysm.
A triseetionar division Of the vascular
system Is necessary to the explanation Of
fever and il is also necessary that the
power ascribed 70 the heart and arteries
should be- blotted out from medical
language. They are distinct in their
structure; and are regulated inthe trans
mission Of their Huids, by distinct, and
appropriate powers. Those powers I
shall call the action aad reaction of the
muscular system, and the action shall
consider as the Prepfrty upon which the
vivii c, and all the iorpessenf powers,
exert their influence. All the powers,
which are applicable 70 the fluids, or boz
dy, are eithervivit ortorpescent. They
aresall fositive in their application, and