SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 431 



would be the most effectual means of correcting the plethoric 

 state of the system ; and such it certainly proves when the ple- 

 thoric state has become considerable, and immediately threatens 

 morbid effects. It is therefore, in such circumstances, proper 

 and necessary : but, as we have said above, that blood-letting 

 is not the proper means of obviating a recurrence of the pletho- 

 ric state, and, on the contrary, is often the means of favouring 

 it ; so it is not a remedy advisable in every circumstance of 

 epilepsy. There is, however, a case of epilepsy, in which there 

 is a periodical or occasional recurrence of the fulness and tur- 

 gescence of the sanguiferous system, giving occasion to a recur- 

 rence of the disease. In such cases, when the means of pre- 

 venting plethora have been neglected, or may have proved 

 ineffectual, it is , absolutely necessary for the practitioner to 

 watch the returns of these turgescences, and to obviate their 

 effects by the only certain means of doing it, that is, by a large 

 blood-letting. 



MCCCXXVIII. The second cause of mobility which we 

 have assigned, is a state of debility. If this is owing, as it fre- 

 quently is, to original conformation, it is perhaps not possible 

 to cure it ; but when it has been brought on in the course of 

 life, it possibly may admit of being mended ; and in either case, 

 much may be done to obviate and prevent its effects. 



MCCCXXIX. The means of correcting debility, so far as 

 it can be done, are, the person's being much in cool air ; the 

 frequent use of cold bathing ; the use of exercise, adapted to the 

 strength and habits of the person ; and perhaps the use of as- 

 tringent and tonic medicines. 



These remedies are suited to strengthen the inherent power 

 of the solids, or moving fibres ; but as the strength of these de- 

 pends also upon their tension, so, when debility has proceeded 

 from inanition, the strength may be restored by restoring the 

 fulness and tension of the vessels by a nourishing diet ; and 

 we have had instances of the propriety and success of such a" 

 practice. 



" There are certainly many cases of epilepsy from inanition ; 

 and those which depend upon haemorrhagies, or long-continued 

 evacuations, are of that kind. Accordingly their treatment 

 has been found to depend upon filling the body. I must own, 



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