1. 1. 15. OF VOLITION. 297 



walking down hill, and of those of the calf of the leg after walk- 

 ing up a steep eminence. For the reason why these cramps 

 commence in sleep, see Sect. XVIII. 15. 



The muscle in this disease contracts itself to relieve some 

 smaller pain, either from irritation or association, and then falls 

 into great pain itself, from the too great action of its own fibres. 

 Hence any muscle, by being too vehemently exerted, falls into 

 cramp, as in swimming too forcibly in water, which is painfully 

 cold; and a secondary pain is then induced by the too violent 

 contraction of the muscle; though the pain, which was the 

 cause of the contraction, ceases. Which accounts for the con* 

 tinuance of the contraction, and distinguishes this disease from 

 other convulsions, which are relaxed and exerted alternately. 

 Hence whatever may be the cause of their primary pain, which 

 occasions the cramp of the calf of the leg, the secondary one is 

 relievable by standing up, and thus by the weight of the body 

 on the toes forcibly extending the contracted muscles. For the 

 cause which induces these muscles of the calf of the leg to fall 

 into more violent contraction than other spasmodic muscles, 

 proceeds from the weakness of their antagonist muscles; as 

 they are generally extended again after action by the weight 

 of the body on the balls of the toes. See the preceding article. 



M. M. Rub the legs with camphor dissolved in oil, and let 

 the patient wear stockings in bed. If a foot-board be put at 

 the bed's feet, and the bed be so inclined, that he will rest a 

 little with his toes against the foot-board, that pressure is said 

 to prevent the undue contractions of the musculi gastrocnemii, 

 which constitute the calf of the leg. In gouty patients, or 

 where the bowels are affected with acidity, half a grain of opium, 

 and six grains of rhubarb, and six of chalk, every night. Flesh- 

 meat for supper. A little very weak warm spirit and water may 

 be taken for present relief, when these cramps are very trouble- 

 >me to weak or gouty patients. 



15. Hydrophobia. Dread of water generally attending ca- 

 nine madness. I was witness to a case, where this disease pre- 

 ceded the locked jaw from a wound in the ancle, occasioned by 

 a fall from a horse; as mentioned in the preceding article. It 

 came on about the sixth day after the accident; when the patient 

 attempted to swallow fluids, he became convulsed all over from 

 the pain of this attempt, and spurted them out of his mouth with 

 violence. It is also said to happen in some hysterical cases. 

 Hence it seems rather the immediate consequence of a pained 

 tendon, than of a contagious poison. And is so far analogous 

 to tetanus, according with the opinions of Dr. Rush and Dr. 

 Percival. 



VOL ii. Q 



