[5]. Tussis ebriorum. Sensitive cough is an exertion of the muscles used in expiration excited into more violent action by the sensorial power of sensation, in consequence of something which too powerfully stimulates the lungs. As the saline part of the secreted mucus, when the absorption of it is impeded; or the too great viscidity of it, when the absorption is increased; or the too great quantity of the mucus, when the secretion is increased; or the inflammation of the membranes of the lungs; it is an effort to dislodge any of these extraneous materials.
Of this kind is the cough which attends free-drinkers after a debauch; it consists of many short efforts to cough, with a frequent expuition of half a tea-spoonful of frothy mucus, and is attended with considerable thirst. The thirst is occasioned by the previous dissipation of the aqueous parts of the blood by sensible or insensible perspiration; which was produced by the increased action of the cutaneous and pulmonary capillaries during the stimulus of the wine. In consequence of this an increased absorption commences to replace this moisture, and the skin and mouth become dry, and the pulmonary mucus becomes inspissated; which stimulates the bronchia, and is raised into froth by the successive currents of air in evacuating it. This production of froth is called by some free-drinkers "spitting sixpences" after a debauch. This subsequent thirst, dry mouth, and viscid expectoration in some people succeeds the slightest degree of intoxication, of which it may be esteemed a criterion. See Class [IV. 2. 1. 8].
As coughs are not always attended with pain, the muscular actions, which produce them, are sometimes excited by the sensorial faculty of irritation, as in Class [I. 1. 2. 8]. [I. 1. 3. 4]. [I. 1. 4. 3]. [I. 2. 3. 4]. Coughs are also sometimes convulsive, as in Class [III. 1. 1. 10]. and sometimes sympathetic, as Class [IV. 2. 1. 7].
M. M. Venesection, when the cough is attended with inflammation. Mucilages. Opium. Torpentia. Blister.
[6]. Singultus. Hiccough is an exertion of the muscles used in inspiration excited into more violent action by the sensorial power of sensation, in consequence of something which too powerfully stimulates the cardia ventriculi, or upper orifice of the stomach. As when solid food is too hastily taken without sufficient dilution. And is an effort to dislodge that offensive material, and push it to some less sensible part of the stomach, or into the middle of the contained aliment.
At the end of fatal fevers it may arise from the acrimony of the undigested aliment, or from a part of the stomach being already dead, and by its weight or coldness affecting the surviving part with disagreeable sensation. The pain about the upper orifice of the stomach is the proximate cause, the too great or too little action of the fibres of this part of the stomach is the remote cause, the action of the muscles used in inspiration is the proximate effect, and the repercussion of the offending material is the remote effect.
Hiccough is sometimes sympathetic, occasioned by the pain of gravel in the kidney or ureter, as in Class [IV. 1. 1. 7]. and is sometimes a symptom of epilepsy or reverie, as in Sect. XIX. 2.
M. M. Oil of cinnamon from one drop gradually increased to ten, on sugar, or on chalk. Opium. Blister. Emetic.
[7]. Asthma humorale. The humoral asthma probably consists in a temporary anasarca of the lungs, which may be owing to a temporary defect of lymphatic absorption. Its cause is nevertheless at present very obscure, since a temporary deficiency of venous absorption, at the extremities of the pulmonary or bronchial veins, might occasion a similar difficulty of respiration. See Abortio, Class [I. 2. 1. 14]. Or it might be supposed, that the lymph effused into the cavity of the chest might, by some additional heat during sleep, acquire an aerial form, and thus compress the lungs; and on this circumstance the relief, which these patients receive from cold air, would be readily accounted for.
The paroxysms attack the patient in his first sleep, when the circulation through the lungs in weak people wants the assistance of the voluntary power. Class [I. 2. 1. 3]. And hence the absorbents of the lungs are less able to fulfil the whole of their duty. And part of the thin mucus, which is secreted into the air-cells, remains there unabsorbed, and occasions the difficult respiration, which awakes the patient. And the violent exertions of the muscles of respiration, which succeed, are excited by the pain of suffocation, for the purpose of pushing forwards the blood through the compressed capillaries, and to promote the absorption of the effused lymph.