SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 405 



is sometimes more full and frequent than natural ; the face is 

 flushed, and a warm sweat is forced out over the whole body. 



MCCLXIII. Although fever be not a constant attendant 

 of this disease, especially when arising from a lesion of nerves ; 

 yet, in those cases proceeding from cold, a fever sometimes has 

 supervened, and is said to have been attended with inflammatory 

 symptoms. Blood has been often drawn in this disease, but it 

 never exhibits any inflammatory crust ; and all accounts seem to 

 agree, that the blood drawn seems to be of a looser texture than 

 ordinary, and that it does not coagulate in the usual manner. 



MCCLXIV. In this disease the head is seldom affected 

 with delirium, or even confusion of thought, till the last stage 

 of it; when, by the repeated shocks of a violent distemper, 

 every function of the system is greatly disordered. 



MCCLXV. It is no less extraordinary, that, in this violent 

 disease, the natural functions are not either immediately or 

 considerably affected. Vomitings sometimes appear early in 

 the disease, but commonly they are not continued ; and it is 

 usual enough for the appetite of hunger to remain through the 

 whole course of the disease ; and what food happens to be taken 

 down seems to be regularly enough digested. The excretions 

 are sometimes affected, but not always. The urine is some- 

 times suppressed, or is voided with difficulty and pain. The 

 belly is costive : but, as we have hardly any accounts except- 

 ing of those cases in which opiates have been largely employed, 

 it is uncertain whether the costiveness has been the effect of the 

 opiates or of the disease. In several instances of this disease, 

 a miliary eruption has appeared upon the skin ; but whether 

 this be a symptom of the disease, or the effect of a certain treat- 

 ment of it, is undetermined. In the meanwhile, it has not been 

 observed to denote either safety or danger, or to have any effect 

 in changing the course of the distemper. 



MCCLXVI. This disease has generally proved fatal ; and 

 this indeed may be justly supposed to be the consequence of its 

 nature : but, as we know that, till very lately, physicians were 

 not well acquainted with a proper method of cure ; and that, 

 since a more proper method has been known arid practis- 

 ed, many have recovered from this disease ; it may be there- 



