434 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



As the operation of horror is, in many respects, analogous to 

 that of terror, several seemingly superstitious remedies have 

 been employed for the cure of epilepsy ; and if they have ever 

 been successful, I think it must be imputed to the horror they 

 had inspired. 



MCCCXXXII. Of the astringent medicines used for the 

 cure of epilepsy, the most celebrated is the Viscus quercinus, 

 which, when given in large quantities, may possibly be useful ; 

 but I believe it was more especially so in ancient times, when it- 

 was an object of superstition. In the few instances in which I 

 have seen it employed, it did not prove of any effect. 



MCCCXXXIII. Among the vegetable tonics, the bitters 

 are to be reckoned ; and it is by this quality that I suppose the 

 orange-tree leaves to have been useful. But they are not al- 

 ways so. 



MCCCXXXIV. The vegetable tonic, which, from its use 

 in analogous cases, is the most promising, is the Peruvian bark ; 

 this, upon occasion, has been useful, but has also often failed. 

 It is especially adapted to those epilepsies which recur at certain 

 periods, and which are at the same time without the recurrence 

 of any plethoric state, or turgescence of the blood ; and, in such 

 periodical cases, if the bark is employed some time before the 

 expected recurrence, it may be useful; but it must be given in 

 large quantity, and as near to the time of the expected return as 

 possible. " Only when epilepsy depends upon a mobility of the 

 system, we can expect the bark to prove a remedy. And in 

 such cases it may possibly have often proved useful ; but I have 

 hardly found it to be so, and am of opinion, that the fossil to- 

 nics, as chalybeates, cuprum ammoniacum, flowers of zinc, or 

 white vitriol, are always found more effectual. M.M. 



MCCCXXXV. The metallic tonics seem to be more power- 

 ful than the vegetable, and a great variety of the former have 

 been employed. 



Even arsenic has been employed in the cure of epilepsy ; and 

 its use in intermittent fevers gives an analogy in its favour. 



Preparations of tin have been formerly recommended in the 

 cure of epilepsy, and in the cure of the analogous disease of hys- 

 teria ; and several considerations render the virtues of tin, with 



