580 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



a symptom of a strong degree of collapse of the sensorium. We 

 observe that it occurs in various degrees ; there is first an im- 

 perfect or erroneous sight, and frequent instances of false vi- 

 sion, and the imagining of objects really not present. It has 

 been common to impute this to the state of the sensorium alone, 

 but I have several facts to show that it may be in a great mea- 

 sure owing to the state of the organ itself, as it is affected by the 

 collapse of the sensorium ; as where blackish spots appear to 

 cover every thing the persons look at, which they are employed 

 in picking with their fingers in order to take them off. This 

 gives occasion to the term Floccorum collectio, . the Carpholo- 

 gia of the Greeks, which has been considered as a fatal sign ; 

 but as it occurs in an organ which is exquisitely sensible, it is 

 not always to be considered so, and may be partly owing to the 

 state of the organ as affected by the sensorium. These are the 

 several symptoms of Debility in the animal functions. 



" B. Of the Symptoms of Debility, as they appear in the 

 Vital functions ; and, 



" 1. In the state of the Circulation, or the action of the heart. 

 What it is which, in ordinary health, gives stability and per- 

 manency to the motion of the heart, is difficult to explain; but 

 certainly this is one of the most stated and most constantly ex- 

 erted functions of the system. When therefore a Deliquium 

 animi occurs, it may be considered as a mark of very great de- 

 bility ; it does occur in fevers, but more especially on the at- 

 tack of intermittent or remittent fevers ; in continued fevers, 

 either in their beginning or progress, it is a much more rare 

 symptom. But even there various symptoms occur that show 

 an approach to it, so that there is a tendency to the state of ab- 

 solute debility. 



" Approaching debility is announced by some degree of ver- 

 tigo, dimness of sight, singing in the ears, or, as it is expressed, 

 Tinnitus aurium, of which we have frequent instances even in 

 continued fevers. This, however, commonly occurs only when 

 the body is raised to more or less of an erect posture ; an en- 

 tirely erect posture would in a number of instances bring on 

 this symptom and Syncope itself; and in other cases it goes 

 so far that the raising a small part of the body, as the 

 head, from the pillow, brings on at least the first approach- 



