33 o DISEASES SECT. XXXIV .1.3. 



is none to fpare for any other. Whence fyncope, or temporary 

 apoplexy, iucceeds to epileptic convulfjons. 



3. Hence when any violent pain afflidls us, of which we can 

 neither avoid nor remove the caufe. we foon learn to endeavour 

 to alleviate it, by exerting fome violent voluntary effort, as men- 

 tioned above ; and are naturally induced to ufe thofe mufcles 

 for this purpofe, which have been in the early periods of our 

 lives mod frequently or moft powerfully exerted. 



Now the firft mufcles, which infants ufe moft frequently, are 

 thofe of refpiration ; and on this account we gain a habit of 

 holding our breath, at the fame time that we uie great efforts 

 to exclude it, for this purpofe of alleviating unavoidable pain ; 

 or we prefs out our breath through a fmall aperture of the 

 larynx, and fcream violently, when the pain is greater than i& 

 relievable by the former mode of exertion. Thus children 

 fcream to relieve any pain either of body or mind, as from 

 anger, or fear of being beaten. 



Hence it is curious to obferve, that thofe animals, who have 

 more frequently exerted their mufcles of refpiration violently, 

 as in talking, barking or grunting, as children, dogs, hogs, fcream 

 much more when they are in pain, than thofe other animals, 

 who uie little or no language in their common modes of life j 

 as horfes, fheep, and cows. 



The next moft frequent or moft powerful efforts, which in- 

 fants are firft tempted to produce, are thofe with the mu cles in 

 biting hard fubftances , indeed the exertion of thefe mufcles is 

 very powerful in common maftication, as appears from the pain 

 we receive, if a bit of bone is unexpectedly found amongft our 

 fofter food ; and further appears from their afting to fo great 

 mechanical difadvantage, particularly when we bite with the in- 

 cifores, or canine teeth ; which are firft formed, and thence are 

 firft ufed to violent exertion. 



Hence when a perfon is in great pain, the caufe of which he 

 cannot remove, he fets his teeth firmly together, or bites fome 

 fubftance between them with great vehemence, as another 

 mode of violent exertion to produce a temporary relief. Thus 

 we have a proverb where no help can be had in pain, " to grin 

 and abide -," and the tortures of hell are faid to be attended with 

 gnafhing of teeth," 



Hence in violent fpafmodic pains I have feen people bite not 

 only their tongues, but their arms or fingers, or thofe of the at- 

 tendants, or any object which was near them ; and alfo (hike, 

 pinch, or tear, others or themfelves, particularly the part of 

 their own body, which is painful at the time. Soldiers, who 

 die of painful wounds in battle, are faid in Homer to bite the 



ground. 



