342 DISEASES SECT. XXXIV. 3. 3 . 



of vehement exertion, contribute to relieve pain, by expending 

 a large quantity of fenforial power. 



Thofe fits generally commence during fleep, from whence I 

 fuppofe they have been thought to have fome connexion with 

 fleep, and have thence been termed Somnambulifm ; but their 

 commencement during fleep is owing to our increafed excita- 

 bility by internal fenfations at that time, as explained in Seh 

 XVIII. 14 and 15, and not to any fimilitude between reverie 

 and fleep. 



3. I was once concerned for a very elegant and ingenious 

 young lady, who had a reverie on alternate days, which continu- 

 ed nearly the whole day ; and as in her days of difeafe fhe took 

 up the fame kind of ideas, which fhe had converfed about on 

 the alternate day before, and could recollect nothing of them on 

 her well day ; fhe appeared to her friends to poflfefs two minds. 

 This cafe alfo was of the epileptic kind, and was cured, with 

 fome relapfes, by opium adminiftered before the commencement 

 of the paroxyfm. 



4. Whence it appears, that the methods of relieving inflam- 

 matory pains, is by removing all ftimulus, as by venefection, 

 cool air, mucilaginous diet, aqueous potation, filence, darknefs. 



The methods of relieving pains from defeat of ftimulus is by 

 fupplying the peculiar ftimulus required, as of food or warmth. 



And the general method of relieving pain is by exciting into 

 aftion fome great part of the fyftem for the purpofe of expend- 

 ing a part of the fenforial power. This is done either by ex- 

 ertion of the voluntary ideas and mufcles, as in infanity and 

 convulfion ; or by exerting both voluntary and fenfitive mo- 

 tions, as in reverie ; or by exciting the irritative motions by 

 wine or opium internally, and by the warm bath or blifters ex- 

 ternally ; or laftly, by exciting the fenfitive ideas by good news, 

 afiefting ftories, or agreeable paffions. 



SECT. 



