Account of a singular Coni}ulsive Affection. 87 



Dear Sir, 



It is with extreme diffidence that, according to your 

 desire, I. attempt to give a history of the Rise and 

 Progress (in this place) of the affection which your 

 friend and correspondent, Dr. Robertson, terms Cho- 

 rea, or St. Vitus's Dance. This diffidence arises 

 from two circumstances, among, perhaps, many 

 others : viz. 



First, at this time, I have not sufficient leisure to 

 reflect on, and to examine the subject ; and 



Secondly (which is a more substantial reason), I 

 really doubt whether I know any thing as to the phi- 

 losophy of the subject, without which a perfect his- 

 tory of the affection ought not to be expected ; al- 

 though I believe that (from every information that I 

 have been able to collect) it is more prevalent here, 

 and in the neighbourhood, than it is, or ever was, in 

 any part of the world; and although I have (possess- 

 ing the opportunity) paid attention to it, from its first 

 commencement to the present time. However, so 

 far as I shall attempt to proceed in the inquiry, I will 

 endeavour to be as impartial a relator as possible. 



This disease made its appearance, in this place, 

 early in the summer of 1803, and increased in its ef- 

 fects with astonishing rapidity, until the latter end of 

 that season. Since this period, the average number 

 of subjects, each season, has not, I think, very greatly 

 diflfered from what it was at that time, there being 



