SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 497 



man body are connected, and how much its several functions 

 depend upon one another, we will not wonder that their morbid 

 affections should be often mixed. The effect of this is indeed, 

 that we have no universal distinctions ; and in a few cases only, 

 we have exact limits between analogous and somewhat similar 

 diseases. It is the business of the system to extricate us from 

 this confusion, to teach us to distinguish with precision and 

 accuracy ; while in some cases we must remain in some doubt 

 and difficulty. Purple is a compound of red and blue; and there 

 are some purples in which it is difficult to say whether the red 

 or the blue prevails ; but in many other cases we distinguish 

 them ; and whether we can distinguish in all cases or not, this 

 never embarrasses us in distinguishing between blue and red 

 when these colours are totally separated. So these diseases may 

 also be mixed in certain degrees ; but that does not prevent 

 them from being truly, and very often totally distinct and dis- 

 tinguishable diseases ; and after considering both the one and 

 the other, I believe that the difficulty of distinguishing them 

 will seldom occur." 



MDXIX. From all these considerations, it must, I think, 

 appear, that the hysteria may be very well and properly distin- 

 guished from hypochondriasis. 



Further, it seems to me to have been with great improprie- 

 ty, that almost every degree of the irregular motions of the 

 nervous system has been referred to the one ^or other of these 

 two diseases. Both are marked by a peculiarity of tempera- 

 ment, as well as by certain symptoms commonly accompanying 

 that ; but some of these, and many others usually marked by 

 the name of nervous symptoms, may, from various causes, a- 

 rise in temperaments different from that which is peculiar to 

 either hysteria or hypochondriasis, and without being joined 

 with the peculiar symptoms of either the one or the other dis- 

 ease : so that the appellations of Hysteric and Hypochondriac 

 are very inaccurately applied to them. Under what view these 

 symptoms are otherwise to be considered, I am not ready to 

 determine ; but must remark, that the appellation of Nervous 

 Diseases is too vague and undefined to be of any useful ap- 

 plication. 



MDXX. Having thus endeavoured to distinguish hysteria 



VOL. II. 2 I 



