Popular Lectures on Zoonomia: Or The Laws of Animal Life, in Health and DiseaseGarnett, Thomas
Science
Popular Lectures on Zoonomia: Or The Laws of Animal Life, in Health and Disease
Garnett, Thomas
Physiology
When any, or all of these exciting powers act too strongly on the
body, the first effect they produce is a preternatural acuteness of
all the senses; the motions, both voluntary and involuntary, are
performed with vigour, and there is an acuteness of genius and
intellectual power. In short, every part of the body seems in a state
of complete vigour and strength; that this is the case with the heart
and arteries, appears from the strong and firm pulse; in the stomach
it is shown by the appetite; and, in the extreme parts, by the ruddy
colour and complexion. In short, every appearance marks vigour of the
body, and abundance of blood. Could the body be kept in this state,
nothing could be more to be desired; this, however, is impossible;
the excitement, though still within the bounds of health, has
overstepped the point of good health, and is verging fast to
predisposition to sthenic disease; so that, to secure a permanent
state of health, it is always better to keep the excitement rather
under the middle point, or 40 degrees, than above it. During the
predisposition to sthenic disease, which is produced by the longer
continued, or increased action of these powers, no symptoms of
disease appear; but shortly after, disturbed sleep, depressed
spirits, languor, a sense of fulness, heaviness, particularly after
eating, show that this sthenic state cannot be further increased with
impunity. The least increase of sthenic diathesis now brings on a
disturbance of the functions, or actual disease; the commencement of
which is generally a shivering, and a sense of cold; thirst and heat
succeed; and then generally a pain in some part, either external or
internal: costiveness generally attends this state, the urine is
clear, and secreted in small quantity; memory and imagination become
diminished, and there is generally less appetite for food.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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