Account of a singular Coniiulshe Affection. 93 



companied by lamentable cries and ejaculations: to all 

 which succeeded what is called the Silent Exercise. 



In this affection, the patient, if she may be so called, 

 sinks into a state of total inaction, her breathing being 

 scarcely perceptible, while the complexion assumes 

 an unusually high tinge of floridness. This stage 

 sometimes continues above half an hour, or perhaps 

 longer. 



The subjects of all these exercises have generally 

 the premonitory symptom (previous to the external 

 emotion) of a compression, or weight in the chest, or 

 about the heart. The motion gives them relief. No 

 other complaints of corporal pain are made, and the 

 subjects are generally pleased with it, and do not wish 

 its abatement, in any shape whatever, a very few in- 

 stances excepted. They have an uncontroulable de- 

 sire of attending upon divine worship, particularly that 

 of the social kind; and they are always impressed with 

 serious and pious reflections at the time of exercise. 

 Nay, the desire of praying is so strong, that even the 

 most bashful girls are not deterred, by the presence of 

 the greatest assembly of people, from performing that 

 duty. This, they say, also gives them relief. 



Among these people, friendship towards each other 

 is a very remarkable characteristic feature; as is the 

 desire, that all others should be in the same situation 

 with themselves. 



