412 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



Jaw. But this is not the only symptom, as, for the most part, 

 it has all the same symptoms as the Opisthotonos and Tetanus 

 strictly so called, and which occur in the other varieties of te- 

 tanic complaints above described. Like the other varieties of 

 tetanus, this is most frequent in warm climates ; but it is not 

 like those arising from the application of cold, entirely confined 

 to such warm climates, as instances of it have occurred in most 

 of the northern countries of Europe. In these latter it seems 

 to be more frequent in certain districts than in others ; but in 

 what manner limited I cannot determine. It seems to be more 

 frequent in Switzerland than in France. I am informed of its 

 frequently occurring in the Highlands of Scotland ; but I have 

 never met with any instance of it in the low country. The par- 

 ticular causes of it are not well known; and various conjectures 

 have been offered, but none of them are satisfying. It is a dis- 

 ease that has been almost constantly fatal, and this, also, com- 

 monly in the course of a few days. The women are so much 

 persuaded of its inevitable fatality, that they seldom or never 

 call for the assistance of our art. This has occasioned our be- 

 ing little acquainted with the history of the disease, or with the 

 effects of remedies in it. Analogy, however, would lead us to 

 employ the same remedies that have proved useful in the other 

 cases of tetanus ; and the few experiments that are yet recorded 

 seem to approve of such a practice. 



CHAP. II. OF EPILEPSY. 



MCCLXXXIL In what sense I use the term Convulsion, 

 I have explained above in MCCLVL 



The convulsions that affect the human body are in several re- 

 spects various ; but I am to consider here only the chief and 

 most frequent form in which they appear, and which is in the 

 disease named Epilepsy. This may be defined as consisting in 

 convulsions of the greater part of the muscles of voluntary mo- 

 tion, attended with a loss of sense, and ending in a state of in- 

 sensibility and seeming sleep. 



MCCLXXXIII. The general form or principal circum- 



