Class II. i. i. io. OF SENSATION. i : 



10 OfcitatiG et pandiculaUo, Yawning and flretching of the 

 limbs is produced either by a long inactivity of the muicies now- 

 brought into action, as fometimes happens after fieep, or after 

 liftening a long time to a dull narrative ; or it is produced by a 

 too long continued action of the antagonist muicies. In the 

 former cafe there is an accumulation of fenforial power during 

 the qp.iefcence of the mufcles now brought into action ; which 

 probably conftitutes the pain or wearifomenefs of a continued 

 attitude. In the latter cafe there is an exhauftion of fenforial 

 power in the mufcles, which have lately been acting violently > 

 and a consequent accumulation in the mufcles, which are antag- 

 onists to them, and which were at reft. 



Thefe involuntary motions are often feen in paralytic 

 limbs, which are at the fame time completely difobedient to the 

 will ; and are frequently obfervable in very young children ; and 

 from thence we may conclude, that thefe motions are learnt be- 

 fore nativity *, as puppies are feen to open their mouths before 

 the membranes are broken. See Seel:. XVI. 2. 



Where thefe motions are obferved in limbs otherwife paralyt- 

 ic, it is an indication that electric mocks may be employed with 

 advantage, as the excitability of the limb by irritation is not ex- 

 tinct, though it be difobedient both to volition and fenfation. 



11. Tenefmus confifts in violent and frequent ineffectual ef- 

 forts to difcharge the contents of the rectum, owing to pain of 

 the fphincter. The pain is produced by indurated feces, or by 

 fome acrid material, as the acidity of indigefted aliment ; and 

 the efforts are attended with mucus from the pained membrane. 

 The feces muft fometimes be taken away by the end of a mar- 

 yow-fpoon, as cathartics and even clyfters will pafs without re- 

 moving them. It is fometimes caufed by fympathy with the 

 urethra, when there is a (tone at the neck of the bladder. See 

 Clafs II. 2. 2. 7. and IV. 1. 2. 8. 



M. M. Fomentation, an enema with mucilage and laudanum. 



The common exclufion of the feces from the rectum is a pro- 

 cefs fimilar to this, except that the mufcles of the fphincter ani, 

 and thofe of the abdomen, which act along with them by the 

 combined powers of fenfation and affociation, are in tenefmus 

 excited by painful fenfation, and in the latter by a fenfation, 

 which may in fome inftances be almoft called pleafurable, as re- 

 lieving us from a painful one in the exclufion of the feces. 



12. Stranguria. Strangury confifts in painful efforts to dif- 

 charge the contents of the urinary bladder. It is generally ow- 

 ing to a ftone in the fphincter of the bladder ; or to the inflam- 

 mation of the neck of it occanoned by cantharides. It is fome- 

 times cauied by fympathy with the piles j and then is liable in 



women 



