92 Account of a singular Convulsive Affection. 



and then fall, apparently lifeless, upon the ground, 

 and lie for several minutes, then rise, and appear to be 

 perfectly well. This race probably continues to the 

 utmost extent of a single breath. 



There are a great many other gesticulations, mostly 

 imitative of those actions which are common in domes- 

 tic life, and chiefly peculiar to the female sex ; to which 

 are added dancing and singing. These make a con- 

 spicuous figure in the general system. 



The dance is usually performed by a perpendicu- 

 lar motion of the body and limbs, when in an erect 

 position, both feet rising at the same time, although 

 sometimes the feet move alternately. The hands and 

 arms are generally protruded, and frequently elevated, 

 while the head is supinely thrown back, the eyes be- 

 ing closed. In the mean time she makes a continual ro- 

 tation of turnings and circles ; and all the movements 

 are performed with softness, and a graceful elasticity. 



During these evolutions, she generally commences 

 her tune. This is pretty uniformly the same, and on 

 a flat key, almost every other note touching the key, 

 and not rising more than a fifih from the key-note. 

 Then immediately succeeds something like swooning. 



Some of the leading characteristics of the exercise, 

 on its first appearance, as it respected women, were, 

 that they took it with a convulsive agitation of the 

 breast, and with apparent difficulty of breathing, ac- 



