Note 79 — DISSERTATION III.

Some actions cannot be induced during the continuance of others. Other actions can, in these circumstances, be formed, and displace completely the former action. A third set seem to give a modification to the original disease: They change it to a certain degree; but the change is not salutary, and they never displace it. The mercurial action, when induced during the existence of some of the diseases which I am describing, comes under the last, or third class. At first, during the formation of the mercurial action, the former diseased action is interrupted, in the same way as the natural action is injured during the period of formation of other actions, when no peculiar disease previously existed. On this account, the sore assumes a better appearance; and, if the action be nearly terminating naturally (as some actions do, and as the primary action in these diseases more readily does than the secondary), it quickly heals up; but, if this be not the case, the appearances soon change, and the disease becomes much worse.