SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 427 



changeable, and by many causes frequently changed, so these 

 changes must give a mobility to the system. 



3dly, Because a plethoric state is favourable to a congestion 

 of blood in the vessels of the brain, it must render these more 

 readily affected by every general turgescence of the blood in the 

 system, and therefore more especially dispose to this disease. 



" The temperament particularly predisposed to epilepsy is 

 not marked, from certain causes every temperament is liable 

 to it. Such are the various stimuli, and the only difference here 

 is, that they operate according to the sensibility; and hence 

 children are affected by teething and worms, which would not 

 affect grown persons. 



" But in adults there is a peculiar temperament ; for every 

 plethoric state, and even every determination to the brain does 

 not necessarily produce epilepsy. 



" There is a constitution in which epilepsy more especially 

 happens, and it is the melancholic, with black and crisped hair, 

 a sallow brown complexion, and torpid dull look. There is cer- 

 tainly some variety, but from much observation I conclude that 

 the temperament described is very general, and particularly in 

 those in whom the disease arises from fear." 



MCCCXV. There is another circumstance of the body dis- 

 posed to epilepsy, which I cannot so well account for ; and that 

 is, the state of sleep : But, whether I can account for it or not, 

 it appears, in fact, that this state gives the disposition I speak 

 of; for, in many persons liable to this disease, the fits happen 

 mly in the time of sleep, or immediately upon the person's com- 

 ig out of it. In a case related by De Haen, it appeared clear- 

 r, that the disposition to epilepsy depended entirely upon the 

 state of the body in sleep. 



MCCCXVI. Having thus considered the whole of the re- 

 mote causes of epilepsy x I proceed to treat of its cure, as I have 

 said it is from the consideration of these remote causes only 

 that we can obtain any directions for our practice in this dis- 

 ease. 



I begin with observing, that, as the disease may be consider- 

 ed as sympathic or idiopathic, I must treat of these separately, 

 and judge it proper to begin with the former. 



MCCCXVII. When this disease is truly sympathic, and 



