Zoonomia; Or, the Laws of Organic Life, Vol. II

by Erasmus Darwin

SPECIES.

[1]. Rubor vultûs prandorum. Flushing of the face after dinner is explained in Sect. XXXV. 1. In the beginning of intoxication the whole skin becomes florid from the association of the actions of the cutaneous arteries with those of the stomach, because vinous spirit excites the fibres of the stomach into more violent action than the stimulus of common food; and the cutaneous capillaries of the face, from their more frequent exposure to the vicissitudes of cold and heat, possess more mobility or irritability than those of other parts of the skin, as further explained in Sect. XXXIII. 2. 10. Vinegar is liable to produce this flushing of the face, which probably is owing to the quantity of vinous spirit it contains, as I believe the unfermented vegetable acids do not produce this effect. In every kind of blush the arterial blood is propelled into the capillaries faster than the venous absorption can carry it forwards into the veins, in this respect resembling the tensio phalli.

Can the beginning vinous or acetous fermentation of the aliment in weak stomachs contribute to this effect? or is it to be ascribed to the greater power of association between the arteries of the face and the fibres of the stomach in some people than in others?

M. M. Eat and drink less at a time, and more frequently. Put 20 drops of weak acid of vitriol into water to be drank at meals. Let the dress over the stomach and bowels be loose. Use no fermented liquors, or vinegar, or spice.

[2]. Sudor stragulis immersorum. Sweat from being covered in bed. In the commencement of an epidemic fever, in which the perpetual efforts to vomit was a distressing symptom, Dr. Sydenham discovered, that if the patient's head was for a short time covered over with the bed clothes, warmth was produced, and a sweat broke out upon the skin, and the tendency to vomit ceased. In this curious fact two trains of associated motions are excited into increased action. First, the vessels of the lungs are known to have their motion associated with those of the skin by the difficulty of breathing on going into the cold bath, as described in Sect. XXXII. 3. 2. Hence, when the vessels of the lungs become excited into stronger action, by the bad air under the bed clothes, warmed and adulterated by frequent breathing, those of the external skin soon become excited by their association into more energetic action, and generate more heat along with a greater secretion of perspirable matter. Secondly, the sympathy between the stomach and skin is evident in variety of circumstances; thus the cold air of frosty days applied to the skin for a short time increases the action of the stomach by reverse sympathy, but decreases it if continued too long by direct sympathy; so in the circumstance above mentioned the action of the stomach is increased by direct sympathy with that of the skin; and the tendency to vomit, which was owing to its diminished action, ceases.

[3]. Cessatio ægritudinis cute excitatâ. The cure of sickness by stimulating the skin. This is explained in the preceding article; and further noticed in [IV. 2. 2. 4]. and in [IV. 1. 1. f.]

Similar to these is the effect of a blister on the back in relieving sickness, indigestion, and heart-burn; and, on the contrary, by these symptoms being frequently induced by coldness of the extremities. The blister stimulates the cutaneous vessels into greater action; whence warmth and pain are produced at the same time, and the fibres of the stomach are excited into greater action by their association with those of the skin. It does not appear, that the concomitant pain of the blister causes the increased energy of the stomach, because the motions of it are not greater than natural; though it is sometimes difficult to determine, whether the primary part of some associated trains be connected with irritative or sensitive motions.

In the same manner a flannel shirt, to one who has not been in the habit of wearing one, stimulates the skin by its points, and thus stops vomiting in some cases; and is particularly efficacious in checking some chronical diarrhœas, which are not attended with fever; for the absorbents of the skin are thus stimulated into greater action, with which those of the intestines consent by direct sympathy.

This effect cannot be ascribed to the warmth alone of the flannel shirt, as being a covering of loose texture, and confining air in its pores, like a sponge, which air is known to be a bad conductor of heat, since in that case its use should be equally efficacious, if it were worn over a linen shirt; and an increased warmth of the room of the patient would be equally serviceable.

[4]. Digestio aucta frigore cutaneo. Digestion increased by coldness of the skin. Every one has experienced the increase of his appetite after walking in the cool air in frosty days; for there is at this time not only a saving of sensorial power by the less exertion of the cutaneous vessels; but, as these consent with those of the stomach and bowels, this saving of sensorial power is transferred by reverse sympathy from the cutaneous capillaries and absorbents to those of the stomach and intestines.

Hence weak people should use the cold air of winter as a cold bath; that is, they should stay in it but a short time at once, but should immerse themselves in it many times a day.

[5]. Catarrhus a frigore cutaneo. Catarrh from cold skin. This has been already explained in Class [I. 1. 2. 7]. and is further described in Sect. XXXV. 1. 3. In this disease the vessels of the membrane, which lines the nostrils, are excited into greater action; when those of the skin, with which they are associated, are excited into less action by the deficiency of external heat, by reverse sympathy; and though the pain of cold attends the torpor of the primary link of this association, yet the increased motions of the membrane of the nostrils are associated with those of the cutaneous vessels, and not with the pain of them, because no inflammation follows.

[6]. Absorptio cellularis aucta vomitu. In the act of vomiting the irritative motions of the stomach are inverted, and of the absorbents, which open their mouths into it; while the cutaneous, cellular, and pulmonary absorbents are induced, by reverse sympathy with them, to act with greater energy. This is seen in cases of anasarca, when long sickness and vomiting are caused by squills, or antimonial salts, or most of all by the decoction of digitalis purpurea, foxglove; and Mr. J. Hunter mentions a case, in which a large bubo, which was just ready to break, was absorbed in a few days by sickness at sea. Treatise on the Blood, p. 501, which is thus accounted for; less sensorial power is expended during sickness by the decreased action of the fibres of the stomach, and of its absorbents; as shewn in Sect. XXXV. 1. 3. whence an accumulation of it is produced, and there is in consequence a greater quantity of sensorial power for the exertion of those motions, which are associated with the absorbents of the stomach by reverse sympathy.

The reverse sympathy between the lacteal and lymphatic branches of the absorbent system have been produced by the one branch being less excited to act, when the other supplies sufficient fluid or nutriment to the sanguiferous vessels. Thus when the stomach is full, and the supply of chyle and mucus and water is in sufficient quantity; the pulmonary, cellular, and cutaneous lymphatics are not excited into action; whence the urine is pale, and the skin moist, from the defect of absorption on those surfaces.

[7]. Syngultus nephriticus. When a stone irritates the ureter, and that even without its being attended with pain or fever, sometimes a chronical hiccough occurs, and continues for days and weeks, instead of sickness or vomiting; which are the common symptoms. In this case the motions of the stomach are decreased by their sympathy with those of the ureter, which are increased by the stimulus of the stone in it; and the increased motions of the diaphragm seem to exist in consequence of their association with the stomach by a second reverse sympathy. This hiccough may nevertheless admit of another explanation, and be supposed to be a convulsive exertion of the diaphragm to relieve the disagreeable sensation of the stomach in consequence of its disordered irritative associations; and in that case it would belong to Class [III. 1. 1]. See Class [IV. 2. 1]. for another example of tertiary association.

M. M. Venesection. Emetic. Calomel. Cathartic, opium, oil of cinnamon from two to ten drops. Aerated alcaline water. Peruvian bark.

[8]. Febris irritativa. Irritative fever, described in Class [I. 1. 1. 1]. The diseases above explained in this genus are chiefly concerning the sympathies of the absorbent system, or the alimentary canal, which are not so much associated with the arterial system, as to throw it into disorder, when they are slightly deranged; but when any great congeries of conglomerate glands, which may be considered as the extremities of the arterial system, are affected with torpor, the whole arterial system and the heart sympathize with the torpid glands, and act with less energy; which constitutes the cold fit of fever; which is therefore at first a decreased action of the associate organ; but as this decrease of action is only a temporary effect, and an increase of exertion both of the torpid glands, and of the whole arterial system, soon follows; the hot fit of irritative fever, or fever with strong pulse, properly belongs to this class and genus of diseases.

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ORDO I.

Increased Associate Motions.

GENUS [II].

Catenated with Sensitive Motions.

The primary links of the associated actions of this genus are either produced or attended by painful or pleasurable sensation. The secondary links of the first ten species are attended with increased motions without inflammation, those of the remainder are attended with inflammation. All inflammations, which do not arise in the part which was previously torpid, belong to this genus; as the gout, rheumatism, erysipelas. It is probable many other inflammations may, by future observation, require to be transplanted into this class.

The circles of sensitive associate motions consist chiefly of the excretory ducts of the capillaries and of the mouths of the absorbent vessels, which constitute the membranes; and which have been induced into action at the same time; or they consist of the terminations of canals; or of parts which are endued with greater sensibility than those which form the first link of the association. An instance of the first of those is the sympathy between the membranes of the alveolar processes of the jaws, and the membranes above or beneath the muscles about the temples in hemicrania. An instance of the second is in the sympathy between the excretory duct of the lacrymal gland, and the nasal duct of the lacrymal sack. And an instance of the third is the sympathy between the membranes of the liver, and the skin of the face in the gutta rosea of inebriates.