applied to the Human Body* ,217 



day- time, in consequence of which I was necessitated 

 to go home, where I slept several hours. I awoke un- 

 der great debility, especially about the knee and elbow- 

 joints ; which continued for several days, when, upon 

 endeavouring to start forward suddenly to give orders 

 to a servant, my knee-joints failed, and I fell prostrate. 

 In one moment I was able to recover myself, and felt 

 refreshed, and much better than before. My head was 

 not affected, and I immediately felt of my pulse, and 

 found it perfectly in order. 



I then consulted a physician, who was of opinion, 

 that my complaint originated from obstructions of the 

 biliary ducts, and that the gall-bladder was surcharged 

 with bile. He prescribed an emetic, which, by his di- 

 rection, I took in such a manner, as that I was puking, 

 from time to time, during the whole day. It also acted 

 as a cathartic. No discharge of bile was observable, 

 and my debility increased. I took medicines for some 

 time, such as lavender, bark, &c, Sec, with no effect 

 whatever, except that the weakness of my limbs was 

 not constant; but, if I made any sudden exertion, was 

 spoken to unexpectedly, felt a disposition to laugh, or 

 was irritated, I could not support myself; but, imme- 

 diately after I was down, could recover myself, and felt 

 perfectly well. 



i 



I early suggested to my physician, the probability 

 that the disease was the consequence of the camphor, 

 with which my clothes had been impregnated during 

 the summer, being applied so completely over the sur- 

 face of my body. This impregnation must have been 



