90 Account of a singular Convuhhe Affection, 



more constant and violent, appears to have weakened 

 the person, in some measure. 



The paroxysm, if it may be so termed, continues 

 from half an hour to an hour, or upwards ; or, per- 

 haps, as long as the meeting, which they are at, con- 

 tinues : but during such meeting the person will 

 sometimes have only a single motion, or, at least, 

 very few of them. 



In respect to the mode of action or gesture, this 

 has varied, in general, in some degree from what it 

 was at the first appearance of the affection. Indeed, 

 at all times since, it has been almost infinitely different, 

 and varied in different persons, and even in the same 

 individual. It would be impossible to give a correct 

 historical account of the varieties of the affection. 

 A few of its most prominent or distinguishing fea- 

 tures is all that I can attempt to delineate, at present. 



Upon the first appearance of the affection, the agi- 

 tations of the men were different from those of the 

 women. The former were sometimes seized with a 

 trembling, so violent as to make the seats or pews, at 

 some distance, shake. This symptom was frequently 

 followed by (apparently) the most painful wreathings 

 of the body and limbs, with a disposition, or inclina- 

 tion, to tumble about on the ground. At other times, 

 the affected would make one or several perpendicular 

 vaults, to the height (or perhaps a greater height) that 

 he-naturally could by a voluntary exertion. These 

 actions were frequently accompanied by a deep, loud, 



