CLASS L 3. 1. 10. OF IRRlTATIONf. 137 



phatic diabetes, are the most common symptoms of the hysteric 

 disease; to which sometimes is added the lymphatic salivation, 

 and fits of syncope, or convulsion, with palpitation of the heart, 

 (which probably consists of retrograde motions of it,) and a great 

 fear of dying. Which last circumstance distinguishes these con- 

 vulsions from the epileptic ones with greater certainty than any 

 other single symptom. The pale copious urine, cold skin, palpi- 

 tation and trembling, are the symptoms excited by great fear. 

 Hence in hysteric diseases, when these symptoms occur, the fear, 

 which has been usually associated with them, recurs at the same 

 time, as in hypochondriasis, Class I. 2. 4. 10. See Sect. XVJ. 

 8. 1. 



The convulsions which sometimes attend the hysteric disease, 

 are exertions to relieve pain, either of some torpid, or of some 

 retrograde organ; and in this respect they resemble epileptic 

 convulsions, except that they are seldom so violent as entirely to 

 produce insensibility to external stimuli; for these weaker pains 

 cease before the total exhaustion of sensorial power is produced, 

 and the patient sinks into imperfect syncope; whereas the true 

 epilepsy generally terminates in temporary apoplexy, with per- 

 fect insensibility to external objects. These convulsions are less 

 to be dreaded than the epileptic ones, as they do not originate 

 from so permanent a cause. 



The great discharge of pale urine in this disease is owing to 

 the inverted motions of the lymphatics, which arise about the 

 neck of the bladder, as described in Sect. XXIX. 4. 5. And 

 the lymphatic salivation arises from the inverted motions of the 

 salivary lymphatics. 



Hysteria is distinguished from hypochondriasis, as in the latter 

 there are no retrograde motions of the alimentary canal, but sim- 

 ply a debility or inirritability of it, with distention and flatulency, 

 It is distinguished from apepsia and cardialgia by there being 

 nothing ejected from the stomach by the retrograde motions of 

 it, or of the oesophagus. 



M. M. Opium. Camphor. Asafoetida. Castor, with sina- 

 pisms externally; to which must be added a clyster of cold wa- 

 ter, or iced water; which, according to Mons. Pomme, relieves 

 these hysteric symptoms instantaneously like a charm; which it 

 may effect by checking the inverted motions of the intestinal ca- 

 nal by the torpor occasioned by cold; or one end of the intesti- 

 nal canal may become strengthened, and regain its peristaltic 

 motion by reverse sympathy, when the other end is rendered 

 torpid by ice-water. (Pommes des Affections Vaporeuses, p. 25.) 

 These remove the present symptoms; and bark, steel, exercise^ 

 coldish bath, prevent their returns. See Art. VI, 2, 1. 



VOlr. II. X 



