SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 445 



thoric state of the system, or any occasional turgescence of the 

 blood. In many of these cases, blood-letting may give a tem- 

 porary relief; but, in so far as debility and mobility are con- 

 cerned, in such cases this remedy is likely to do harm. 



MCCCLXIV. With respect to the cases depending upon 

 the other set of causes, they may be various, and require very 

 different measures. But I can here say in general, that these 

 cases may be considered as of two kinds : one depending upon 

 primary affections in other parts of the body, and acting by the 

 force of the particular causes ; and another depending upon a 

 state of mobility in the heart itself. In the first of these, it 

 is obvious that the cure of the palpitation must be obtained by 

 curing the primary affection, which is not to be treated of here. 

 In the second, the cure must be obtained, partly by diligently 

 avoiding the occasional causes, partly and chiefly by correcting 

 the mobility of the system, and of the heart in particular ; for 

 doing which, we have treated of the proper means elsewhere. 



" Palpitation is generally a symptomatic affection ; and so 

 far as it depends upon spasmodic affections, if the primary dis- 

 ease admits of opium, the symptom of palpitation may be cured 

 by it also. M. M. 



CHAP. V. OF DYSPNCEA, OR DIFFICULT 

 BREATHING. 



MCCCLXV. The exercise of respiration, and the organs of 

 it, have so constant and considerable a connexion with almost the 

 whole of the other functions and parts of the human body, that 

 upon almost every occasion of disease, respiration must be affect- 

 ed. Accordingly, some difficulty and disorder in this function 

 are in fact symptoms very generally accompanying disease. 



MCCCLXVI. Upon this account, the symptom of difficult 

 breathing deserves a chief place, and an ample consideration in 

 the general system of Pathology ; but what share of considera- 

 tion it ought to have in a treatise of Practice, I find it difficult 

 to determine. 



MCCCLXVII. On this subject, it is, in the first place, ne- 



