438 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



" Though I have not known an epilepsy entirely cured by 

 camphire alone ; yet I have had several instances of a paroxysm 

 which was expected in the course of a night, prevented by a dose 

 of camphire exhibited at bed-time ; and even this, when the cam- 

 phire was given alone : but it has been especially useful when 

 given with a dose of cuprum ammoniacum, of white vitriol, or 

 of the^flowers of zinc. M.M. 



MCCCXLIII. With respect to the use of antispasmodics, it 

 is to be observed, that they are always most useful, and perhaps 

 only useful, when employed at a time when epileptic fits are 

 frequently recurring, or near to the times of the accession of fits, 

 which recur after considerable intervals. 



MCCCXLI V. On the subject of the cure of epilepsy, I have 

 only to add, that as the disease in many cases is continued by 

 the power of habit only, and that, in all cases, habit has a great 

 share in increasing mobility, and therefore in continuing this dis- 

 ease ; so the breaking in upon such habit, and changing the 

 whole habits of the system, is likely to be a powerful remedy in 

 epilepsy. Accordingly, a considerable change of climate, diet, 

 and other circumstances in the manner of life, has often proved 

 a cure of this disease. 



MCCCXLV. After treating of epilepsy, I might here treat 

 of particular ""convulsions, which are to be distinguished from 

 epilepsy by their being more partial : that is, affecting certain 

 parts of the body only ; and by their not being attended with a 

 loss of sense, nor ending in such a comatose state as epilepsy 

 always does. 



MCCCXLVI. Of such convulsive affections many different in- 

 stances have been observed and recorded by physicians. But many 

 of these have been manifestly sympathic affections, to be cured 

 only by curing the primary disease upon which they depend, 

 and therefore not to be treated of here : Or, though they are 

 such as cannot be referred to another disease, as many of them, 

 however, have not any specific character with which they occur 

 in different persons, I must, therefore, leave them to be treated 

 upon the general principles I have laid down with respect to 

 epilepsy, or shall lay down with respect to the following convul- 

 sive disorder, which, as having very constantly, in different per- 



