On the Physical Alterations of the Blood and Animal Fluids in Disease*

texture than the common skin, for when moved, that, as it were, moved in one piece. Now this was a West Indian disease; therefore I say that the girl was contaminated in the West Indies, and impression was made there, which was the first cause, and the disposition was formed, but that disposition did not come into action for three years after. Though her removal to a colder climate could not prevent her complaint or its effects, yet it protracted them. It may further be remarked in specific diseases, and in poisons, that if the specific disease or poison is such as is capable of contaminating different parts, whose power or readiness to act is different, the same disease will appear at different times, in different places, in the same person, though perhaps every part is contaminated at the same time. Thus we have the venereal disease appearing at different times in the same person, and that difference arising from the natural susceptibility to act, some parts being more than others; the skin and tonsils being most susceptible of contamination, as also of action, and therefore affected soonest; the bones and tendons less so, therefore later in taking on the action. The disposition simply does not seem to affect either the constitution or the part, for either shall go on well with all their natural functions and power of restoration when injured, or diseases of every other kind, although at the same time in the disposition of some other disease. Dispositions of one kind may be restored, or probably destroyed for a time, by a more powerful impression, or such as the constitution is more susceptible of, which shall supersede the first disposition, and go on with its action, and when its action is completed, the first disposition shall again take place, as will be illustrated when we come to all actions simply.