SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 501 



it ; but it will be obvious that when the disease depends entirely 

 upon mobility, this is a precarious remedy, and not likely to be 

 of great service : and I say further, that whilst it is, in some 

 measure, to be confined to plethoric cases, it is even then pro- 

 perly practised only upon the first attack of the disease ; for 

 we know that a frequent repetition of bleeding rather brings on 

 that plethora which it should obviate ; and in the repetition of 

 the fits, habit has more share in exciting the disease than ple- 

 thora. 



" Another means of removing the paroxysm is taken from the 

 consideration, that the disorder, as it turns out in effect, produces 

 a comatose state. Hence stimuli were thought of; the most 

 powerful and most immediately applicable of which are heat and 

 cold. 



" Whytt has shewn the good effects of heat, especially 

 when applied in the shape of bathing. The pediluvium, 

 which he recommends, is, in many cases, extremely serviceable, 

 but in others entirely ineffectual. Thus it is of less use in re- 

 markably plethoric habits, and we may add, too, of less safety, 

 as stimuli tend here to rarefy the blood. But in less plethoric 

 habits, and where the disorder seems to have arisen from inan- 

 ition, particularly where it doth not come on from any sudden 

 agitation of passion, but arises from some more obvious cause, 

 beginning, perhaps, with cold at the extremities, and ascending 

 upwards : in these cases a pediluvium is very serviceable. We 

 speak here of an hysterical paroxysm of the limbs. In giving 

 a general tension to the whole system, too, by applying a stim- 

 ulus to particular parts, heat has considerable effects, and the 

 pediluvium is of greater service than a fomentation. 



" Another very efficacious power, and very soon applicable, 

 is that of cold. This has a very great effect in preventing 

 the return of the fit when applied in the interval, but during 

 the paroxysm its effects #re more ambiguous. If we could ap- 

 ply it to the whole system at once, whilst the spasms continued, 

 it might be very serviceable ; but as we can apply it only to par- 

 ticular parts, whilst it diminishes the nervous impetus in some 

 parts, it increases it in others, which increases the paroxysm. 

 Immersing the hands in cold water, or sprinkling some upon 

 the face, just before the fit, is sometimes found to prevent it, but 



