257 



ON 



THE PECULIARITIES OF THE CEREBRAL 

 CIRCULATION, 



AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH 



THE PHENOMENA OF EPILEPSY AND APOPLEXY. 



[The greater part of this paper is taken from an unpublished work 

 " On the Prevention and Treatment of Mental and Nervous 

 Disorders."] 



IN addition to the functional disorders of the brain 

 induced by inflammation and irritative debility, that 

 organ is observed to be liable to a class of affections 

 peculiar to itself, and usually described under the 

 vague terms apoplexy and epilepsy. 



Without previous symptoms further than those 

 indicative of some irregularity in the flow of blood 

 to and from the brain, the functions of the latter 

 are suddenly suspended, and the patient sinks into 

 a state of utter unconsciousness, accompanied either 

 by the general loss of motor power, or by convul- 

 sions. After continuing in this condition for a 

 certain length of time, the patient in epilepsy gene- 

 rally, in apoplexy often, recovers consciousness and 

 voluntary motion, and may enjoy tolerable health 

 until another attack occurs. Sometimes the person 



s 



