SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 441 



and the evolution, being also less steady and regular in the 

 operation of its causes on the nervous system, as it approaches 

 to puberty, may give the mobility which lays the foundation of 4 

 convulsive disorders. 



" Both of these circumstances of evolution take place, at least 

 in the female sex : both may have a share, and in different cases 

 in different proportions; and this is the only foundation on 

 which we can discuss the method of cure." 



MCCCLIV. The method of curing this disease has been va- 

 riously proposed. Dr. Sydenham proposed to cure it by alter- 

 nate bleeding and purging. In some plethoric habits, I have 

 found some bleeding useful ; but, in many cases, I have found 

 repeated evacuations, especially by bleeding, very hurtful. 



In many cases, I have found the disease, in spite of reme- 

 dies of all kinds, continue for many months ; but I have also 

 found it often readily yield to tonic remedies, such as the Pe- 

 ruvian bark, and chalybeates. 



The late Dr. De Haen found several persons labouring un- 

 der this disease cured by the application of electricity. 



" Sauvages gives several instances of cures performed by 

 blood-letting, and some by bleeding and purging ; and I have 

 found both to have good effects in rendering the cure of the 

 disease more easy. But I found that my patients would gen- 

 erally bear the repetition of purging better than that of blood- 

 letting, which I consider as owing to the state of the primae 

 vise, or some debility occurring that produces costiveness, 

 which in this, as in all other cases, it is necessary to obviate 

 pretty constantly. But after these evacuations have been prac- 

 tised, more or less according to circumstances, I have been in 

 use to depend on the bark, and have hardly in any instance 

 failed obtaining a cure. In some I found no remedy of any 

 effect at all. The disease would sometimes subsist for a year 

 or two, till the system, arriving at more firmness, gradually al- 

 lowed it to to be removed." 



" In this disease, I think the preparations of copper and 

 zinc cannot be employed with safety so often, or rather so long, 

 as might be necessary ; and therefore chalybeates and bark 

 are the safer remedies : and we are of opinion that the latter is 

 more safe than the former. 



