_ THE NIGHT-MARE. 
Tn this disease the patient, in time of sleep, imagines he feels an 
uncommon oppression of weight about his breast or stomach, which 
he can by no means shake off. He groans and sometimes cries out, 
though oftener he attempts to speak in vain, ‘Sometimes he 
himself engaged with an enemy, and in danger of being killed, at- _ 
tempts to run away, but finds he cannot. Sometimes he fancies — 
himself in a house that is on fire, or that he is in danger 
drowned in a river. He often thinks he is falling over 
ind the dread of being dashed to pieces suddenly awak 
his disorder may proceed from a stagnation of blood in the brain, 
ngs, &c. But ta rather a Werrols affection: and arises chiefly 
from indigestion. Hence we find that persons of weak nerves, 
who lead a sedentary life, and live full, are most commonly afflicted 
with the night-mare. Nothing tends to produce this more than heavy 
suppers, especially when eaten late, or the patient goes to bed soon — 
after. Wind is likewise a very frequent cause of this disease ; for 
which reason, those afflicted with it ought to avoid all windy food. 
Sailors, hypochondriacs, and pregnant women are most liable 
The night-mare is frequently <¢ = 
animal food, and dri ee ; 
ing and bodily fatigue, by 
ce digestive Tanetions 1d 0a 
__As persons afflicted with the t-mare, g | e 
some noise in the fit, they should be shaken, waked, or spoken’ 
as the uneasiness generally goes off as soon as the patient is awake. 
A dram of brandy taken at bed time will usually-prevent the attack ; 
but it is a bad custom, and in time looses its effect. The patient 
should therefore eat light suppers, and take such other precautionary 
care, as may be necessary. i se 
The following simple method of preventing the night-mare, was 
told to me by an old man, who said it had relieved him for a great 
many years entirely; this is, to stick a needle, or some sharp poimt- 
ed instrument in his night shirt, so that the point of it will touch the 
upon the breast, thereby keeping up a sense of feelin; in the 
id when this is effected, the night-mare is prevented. 
, wen the night-mare goes off, as is frequently the case, without — 
the patient awakening, strange aberrations of the mind are occa- 
— produced, which give origin to reputed visions, and super- 
natural visitations, even an e of superior intellectual culti- 
vation. The degree of Ee ard during ipa parax pas of nig! 
mare, is so much greater than ever happens in a dream, that the per- 
son who has had a vision of this kind, cannot easily bring himself t 
acknowledge the deceit, unless he awakes, or is aroused fron 
baroxysm, and discovers some incongruity in respect to the timea 
hich proves the transaction to be an illusion. 
3 Who are young and full of blood if troubled with 
PSS were 
