34.0 DISEASES Sect. XXXIV. 3. ij 



witlj debility for three or four weeks, with very quick and very 

 feeble pulfe, and other ufual fymptoms of that fpeeies of typhus, 

 f but at this time complained much and frequently of pain of his 

 legs and feet. When thofe who attended Jiim were nearly in 

 defpair of his recovery, I obferved with pleafure an infanity of 

 mind fupervene : which was totally different from delirium, as 

 he knew his friends, calling them by their names, and the room 

 in which he lay, but became violently fufpicious of his attend- 

 ants, and calumniated with vehement oaths his tender mother, 

 who fat weeping by Ins bed. On this his pulie became flower 

 nnd firmer, but the quicknefs did not for fome time intirely 

 ceafe, and he gradually recovered. In this cafe the introduction 

 of an increased quantity of the power of volition gave vigour to 

 thofe movements of the fyftem, which are generally only actu- 

 ated by the power of irritation, and of affociation. 



Another cafe I recollect of a young man, about twenty-five, 

 who had the fcarlet-fever, with very quick pulfe, and an univer- 

 sal eruption on his fkin, and was not without reafen elteemed to 

 be in great danger of his life. After a few days an infanity fu- 

 pervened, which his friends miftook for delirium, and he gradu- 

 ally recovered, and the cuticle peeled off. From thefe and a 

 fevv other cafes I have always elteemed infanity to be a favoura- 

 ble fign in fevers, and have cautioufly diftinguifhed it from de- 

 lirium. 



III. Another mode of mental exertion to relieve pain, is by 

 producing a train of ideas not only by the efforts of volition, as 

 in infanity •, but by thofe of fenfation likewife, as in delirium 

 and fleep. This mental effort is termed reverie, or fomnambula- 

 tion, and is defcribed more at large in Seel. XIX. on that fub- 

 ject. But I lhailhere relate another cafe of that wonderful dif- 

 eafe, which fell yefterday under my eye, and to which I have 

 feen many analogous alienations of mind, though not exactly 

 iimilar in all circumftances. But as all of them either began or 

 terminated with pain or convulfion, there can be no doubt but 

 that they are of epileptic origin, and conftitute another mode of 

 mental exertion to relieve fome painful fenfation. 



I. Matter A. about nine years old, had been feized at feven 

 every morning for ten days with uncommon fits, and had had 

 flight returns in the afternoon. They were fuppofed to origi- 

 nate from worms, and had been in vain attempted to be removed 

 by vermifuge purges. As his fit was expected at feven ycfter- 

 day morning, I faw him before that hour j he was afleep, feemed 

 free from pain, and his pulfe natural. About {even he began 

 to complain of pain about his navel, or more to the left fide, 

 and in a few minutes had exertions of his arms and legs like 



fwimming. 



