496 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



It occurs especially in those females who are liable to the 

 Nymphomania ; and the Nosologists have properly enough 

 marked one of the varieties of this disease by the title of Hy- 

 steria libidinosa. 



In the persons liable to the fits of this disease, it is readily 

 excited by the passions of the mind, and by every considerable 

 emotion, especially those brought on by surprise. 



The persons liable to this disease acquire often such a de- 

 gree of sensibility, as to be strongly affected by every impres- 

 sion that comes upon them by surprise. 



MDXVIIL In this history there appears to be a concur- 

 rence of symptoms and circumstances properly marking a very 

 particular disease, which I think may be distinguished from 

 all others. It seems to me to have been improperly considered 

 by physicians as the same with some other diseases, and par- 

 ticularly with hypochondriasis. The two diseases may have 

 some symptoms in common, but for the most part are consider- 

 ably different. 



Spasmodic affections occur in both diseases ; but neither 

 so frequently, nor to so great a degree, in hypochondriasis as in 

 hysteria. 



Persons liable to hysteria are sometimes affected at the same 

 time with dyspepsia. They are often, however, entirely free from 

 it ; but I believe this never happens to persons affected with 

 hypochondriasis. 



These different circumstances mark some difference in the two 

 diseases ; but they are still more certainly distinguished by the 

 temperament they attack, and by the time of life at which they 

 appear to be most exquisitely formed. 



It has been generally supposed, that the two diseases differ 

 only in respect of their appearing in different sexes. But this 

 is not well founded ; for although the hysteria appears most 

 commonly in females, the male sex is not absolutely free from 

 it, as I have observed^ above ; and although the hypochon- 

 driasis may be most frequent in men, the instances of it in 

 the female sex are very common. 



" Upon this occasion I use an illustration which I think ap- 

 plicable. Considering how much the several parts of the hu- 



1 



