PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



>nes to bring it on faster. But when the fits come to 

 ymatose state, this is one means of recovering the patient 



" Another set of stimuli is found in medicines. Whether 

 these are to be considered merely as stimuli, or also as anti- 

 spasmodics, we shall not here determine. At least they are of 

 a peculiar kind, and all stimuli are not equally useful. Those 

 are most generally used which are the most active, as volatile 

 alkali : and this applies to an organ which most readily com- 

 municates with the whole system, namely the smell ; for, in the 

 hysteric paroxysm we cannot introduce any thing by the mouth 

 and stomach. This seems to act merely as a stimulus. But, 

 in empyreumatics, as in burnt animal substances, there is a 

 mixture of qualities, there being both a volatile alkali, and 

 empyreumatic oil ; and whether these act as a stimulus only, or 

 also as antispasmodics, is not certain. 



" Analogous to these empyreumatics, are the fossil oils. The 

 Oleum succini is the most usually employed of these ; but that 

 met with in the shops is in general very ineffectual, being never 

 pure or genuine, but consisting chiefly of the oil of turpentine. 

 The oil of amber, when in its properly rectified state, is a very 

 powerful medicine. Besides applying these medicines to the 

 nose, we may also introduce them by a glyster, though the 

 sphincter ani is sometimes so much contracted as not to allow 

 us to proceed that way ; administered in this manner, they are 

 found to be more powerful than any fomentation. 



" With regard to the application of foetid antispasmodic me- 

 dicines, a great variety has been proposed : there is little in the 

 choice, further than that strong impressions are necessary, and 

 those of different kinds. 



" These are the methods used to remove the hysteric par- 

 oxysm. I go on to what is of more importance, the practice in 

 the intervals of the fits, in order to prevent their recurrence. 

 The indications are precisely the same as in epilepsy : 



"1. To avoid occasional causes. This is sometimes very 

 difficult, as the passions are the chief of these occasional causes. 

 Thus, if an excess in venery is the occasional causes, we can but 

 seldom know this, or prevent a repetition of it. It is the same 

 in the case of the other passions. A sagacious physician may, 



