334 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



the syncope, which happens in consequence of several powers 

 acting directly on the heart, with all the appearance of apo- 

 plexy, or sopor, if you will. In some cases the distinction may 

 be difficult. Sauvages has given a genus under the title of 

 Asphyxia, most of the species of which I have referred to Apo- 

 plexia : that is, I suppose them to depend on a cause which acts 

 upon the nervous fluid or power, or upon the state of the brain. 

 But others act more directly on the state of the heart, and induce 

 the same appearance. I abstract from all these in treating of 

 apoplexy. I am sensible that in the character both of the 

 Comata in general, and of Apoplexia in particular, I have not 

 obviated this difficulty : but I trust to this explanation." 



MCI I. The loss of sense and motion in particular parts of 

 the body, may be occasioned by a compression, either of the ori- 

 gin of certain nerves only, or of the same nerves in some part 

 of their course from the brain to the organs of sense and motion. 

 Such cases of partial compression will be more properly con- 

 sidered hereafter ; and the affection I am now to treat of being 

 general, it must depend upon a very general compression of the 

 origin of the nerves, or medullary portion of the brain ; and, 

 therefore, this more general compression only is to be considered 

 here. 



MCIII. This compression of the origin of the nerves, or me- 

 dullary portion of the brain, may be produced in different ways, 

 as 



1. By external violence fracturing and pressing in a part of 

 the cranium. 



2. By tumours, sometimes soft, sometimes bony, formed in 

 different parts of the brain, or in its membranes, and becoming 

 of such a bulk as to compress the medullary substance of the 

 brain. 



3. By the blood accumulated in the blood-vessels of the brain, 

 and distending them to such a degree as to compress the medul- 

 lary portion of the same. 



4. By fluids effused in different parts of the brain, or into the 

 cavity of the cranium, and accumulated in such quantity as to 

 occasion the compression we treat of. 



And, as to this last, it is to be remarked here, that the fluids 



