334 DISEASES Sect. XXXIV. i. 7, 



fyncope, which fucceeds after the violent exertions of our vol- 

 notary motions, as after epileptic fits, for the power of volition 

 aOs in this cafe as the flimulus in the other. This fyncope is a 

 temporary paify, or apoplexy, which ceafes after a time, the muf- 

 cles recovering their power of being excited into action by the 

 efforts of volition ;*as the eye in the circumftance above men- 

 tioned recovers in a little time its power of feeing objects in a 

 gloomy room ; which were invilibie immediately after coming 

 out of a ftronger light. This is owing to an accumulation of 

 fenforial power during the inaction of thofe fibres, which were 

 before accuftomed to perpetual exertions, as explained in Sect. 

 XII. 70 1. A (lighter degree of this difeafe is experienced by 

 every oae after great fatigue, when the mufcles gain fuch inabili- 

 ty to further adlion, that we are obliged to reft them for a while, 

 or to fummon a greater power of volition to continue their 

 motions. 



In all the fyncopes, which I have feen induced after convul- 

 sive fits, the puljfe has continued natural, though the organs of 

 fenfe, as well as the locomotive mufcles, have ceafed to perform 

 their functions; for it is necefTary for the perception of objects, 

 that the external organs of fenfe mould be properly excited by 

 the voluntary power, as the eye-lids mult be open, and perhaps 

 the mufcles of the eye put into action to diftend, and thence 

 give greacer pellucidity to the cornea, which in fyncope, as in 

 (icathj appears flat and lefs tranfparent. The tympanum of the 

 car alfo feemj to require a voluntary exertion of its mufcles, to 

 gain its due tenfion, and it is probable the other external organs 

 of fenfe require a fimilar voluntary exertion to adapt them to 

 the diftinct perception of objects. Hence in fyncope as in fleep, 

 as the power of volition is fufpended, no external objects are 

 perceived. See Se£t. XVIII. 5. During the time which the 

 patient lies in a fainting fit, the fpirit of animation becomes ac- 

 cumulated ; and hence the mufcles in a while become irritable 

 their ufual llinmlaiion, and the fainting fit ceafes. See Sect. 

 XII. 7. 1. 



7. If the exertion of the voluntary motions has been ftill more 

 energetic, the quiefcence, which fucceeds, is {o complete, that 

 they cannot again be excited into action by the efforts of the 

 will. In this manner the pally, and apoplexy (which is an uni- 

 verfal paify) are frequently produced after convulfions, or other 

 violent exertions j of this 1 (hall add a few inftanccs. 



Platn^rus mentions ibme, who have died apoplectic from vio- 

 lent exertions in dancing j and Dr. Mead, in his efTay on Poi- 

 fens, records a patient in the hydrophobic, who at one effort 

 hu^e the cords which bound him, and at the fame inftant ex- 

 pired. 



