PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



singular ; for I believe, that in every epileptic paroxysm the 

 heart is affected in the same manner, though the violent con- 

 vulsions in the voluntary organs prevent its being taken notice 

 of ; and I could bring proofs that the whole arterial system, and 

 therefore the heart, is so affected. In hysteric paroxysms the 

 affection of the heart is commonly very evident, and we may pre- 

 sume that in all general spasmodic affections it must be the case/' 



This is the general form of the disease ; and it varies only in 

 different persons, or on different occasions in the same person, 

 by the phenomena mentioned being more or less violent, or by 

 their being of longer or shorter duration. 



" In inquiring into the proximate cause, we must observe, 

 that we enter upon the most difficult part of the animal patho- 

 logy. The suddenness of the attack without evident cause ; 

 the universality and vehemence of the agitation without sensa- 

 tion ; the variety and irregularity of the phenomena, have al- 

 ways struck with astonishment and horror, and given occasion 

 to refer the whole to supernatural powers ; and the natural super- 

 stition of men has been greatly increased by the artifices of a 

 misguided religion, while it has not been in the power of philo- 

 sophy to give relief. 



" The terror of eclipses can be easily removed by an explan- 

 ation of their causes, and, in proof, by a prediction ; but philo- 

 sophy has done little towards explaining or foretelling epilepsy. 

 Shall we attempt either therefore ? I do it with hesitation, be- 

 cause we cannot go far in it, but I hope to go the length of in- 

 fluencing practice. We shall at least be no worse than on an 

 empirical footing, which is still much at random, and as seldom 

 successful as we can be on our theory. 



" Objections are always strongest to a new theory : but where 

 empiricism does nothing, theory is allowable, and there is a 

 temptation to it. There is no danger when it is employed with 

 caution, when we distinguish between the ignis fatuus and a 

 steady light, when this light gives a general direction, and is 

 not trusted to by the way where we may be stopt by a wall, or 

 arrested by a quagmire. With these cautions we proceed. I 

 deal, I own, in what I call theory, but not in that which is com- 

 monly called theory, which proceeds from hypothesis. All that 

 I mean by theory, is, to find out certain facts which lead to some 



