418 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



certainly entirely counterfeited, and not real ; but I am certain 

 that, in many other cases, they are not what may be called 

 simulati^ but really and truly epileptic. I would not enter 

 into a detail of circumstances, but I would say, that the power 

 of imagination is greater than we can conceive. A person may 

 have had epilepsy brought on at first by a natural cause ; but it 

 is certain that a number of people can by the recollection of 

 certain ideas, by the power of their own imagination, throw 

 themselves into a real epileptic fit, and they will give proofs by 

 an absolute insensibility, that it is sufficiently real, although 

 there is little doubt that they can bring it on. It is of conse- 

 quence in the conduct of this disease, to observe, that, indeed, 

 it is frequently renewed by certain affections of the mind. It 

 would lead me very far to illustrate the power of imagination in 

 other cases, and how often the renewal of certain circumstances 

 of our body depends merely upon certain circumstances of ima- 

 gination. One of the most remarkable instances, perhaps, is 

 the recollection of lascivious scenes and circumstances, acting 

 powerfully on the vesiculoe seminales. 



" The following story also is a good illustration of this sub- 

 ject. The lady of a particular acquaintance of mine was with 

 child, and on account of the increase of bulk, found it necessary 

 to have her gowns let out. The mantua-maker came home to 

 fit one on : this required the lady to stand on her feet, and as 

 there are many circumstances which occasion sick fits to women 

 with child, so such a fit seized this lady at this time : she was 

 obliged to have the operation of the mantua-maker interrupted ; 

 she was sick and vomited ; next day the business of the mantua- 

 maker was attempted again, but no sooner had she stood up, 

 and was put into the same condition, than the same fit returned, 

 which interrupted them : the day after the mantua-maker returned 

 again, but now the very sight of the gown caused sickness to 

 the lady. It was laid aside and thrown into a closet, and upon 

 several occasions afterwards, the going into the closet brought 

 back all the symptoms of sickness and vomiting ; nor could she 

 bear the sight of that gown until she was delivered of her child, 

 after which she was not so much under the power of imagina- 

 tion. This is an evident proof, that a little recollection of 

 circumstances which happens to be associated with the sick fit, 



