DISEASES CLASS III. 1. 1. 7. 



still unabsorbed on the membranes; and which may be in too 

 small quantity to affect them with pain in common muscular 

 exertions, but may produce great pain, when the bellies of the 

 muscles swell to a larger bulk in violent action. 



M. M. Venesection. Calomel. Opium. Bark. One grain 

 of calomel and one of opium for ten successive nights. A ban- 

 dage spread with emplastrum de minio put tight on the affected 

 part. 



7. Epilepsia is originally induced, like other convulsions, by a 

 voluntary exertion to relieve some pain. This pain is most fre- 

 quently about the pit of the stomach, or termination of the bile- 

 duct; and in some cases the torpor of the stomach, which pro- 

 bably occasioned the epileptic fits, remains afterwards, and pro- 

 duces a chronical anorexia; of which a case is related in Class 

 II. 2. 2. 1. There are instances of its beginning in the heel, 

 of which a case is published by Dr. Short, in the Med. Essays, 

 Edin. I once saw a child about ten years old, who frequently 

 fell down in convulsions, as she was running about in play; on 

 examination, a wart was found on one ancle, which was ragged 

 and inflamed; which was directed to be cut off, and the fits 

 never recurred. 



When epilepsy first commences, the patients are liable to ut- 

 ter one scream before they fall down; afterwards the convul- 

 sions so immediately follow the pain, which occasions them, 

 that the patient does not recollect or seem sensible of the pre- 

 ceding pain. Thus in laughter, when it is not excessive, a per- 

 son is not conscious of the pain, which so often recurs, and causes 

 the successive screams or exertions of laughter, which give a 

 temporary relief to it. 



Epileptic fits frequently recur in sleep from the increase of 

 sensibility at that time, explained in Sect. XVIII. 14. In two 

 such cases, both of young women, one grain of opium given at 

 night and continued many months, had success; in one of them 

 the opium was omitted twice at different times, and the fit re- 

 curred on both the nights. In the more violent case, described 

 in Sect. XVIII. 15, opium had no effect. 



Epileptic fits generally commence with setting the teeth, by 

 which means the tongue is frequently wounded; and with roll- 

 ing the eye-balls in every kind of direction; for the muscles 

 which suspend the jaw, as well as those which move the eyes, 

 are in perpetual motion during our waking hours; and yet con- 

 tinue subservient to volition; hence their more facile and forci- 

 ble actions for the purpose of relieving pain by the exhaustion 

 of sensorial power. See Section XXXIV. 1.4. 



Epileptic convulsions are not attended with the fear of death. 



