OF SLEEP. 



imte without any fubfequent ftupor. Large dofes 

 of opium only prevented the paroxyfms, fo l n o as 

 they prevented him from fleeping by the intoxication, 

 which they induced. Other medicines had no effect 

 on him. He was gently awakened every half hour 

 for one night, but without good effecl, as he foon 

 flept again, and the fit returned at about the fame 

 periods of time, for the accumulated fenforial power, 

 which occafioned the increafed fcnfibility to pain, 

 was not thus exhaufled. This cafe evinces, that the 

 fenfibiiity of the fyflem to internal excitation increa- 

 fcs, as our lleep is prolonged ; till the pain thus oc- 

 cafioned produces voluntary exertion ; which, wheni 

 it is in its ufual degree, only awakens us ; but when 

 It is more violent, it occafions cortvulftons. 



The cramp in the calf of the leg is another kind 

 of convulfior;, which generally commences in ileep, 

 occafioned by the continual increafe of irritability 

 from internal ftimuli, or of fenfibiiity, during that 

 ftate of our exiftence. The cramp is a violent ex 

 ertion to relieve pain, generally either of the ikin 

 from cold, or of the bowels, as in fome diarrhoeas, 

 or from the mufcles having been previoufly over- 

 tlretched, as in walking up or down deep hills. But 

 in thefe convulfions of the rnufcles, which form the 

 calf of the leg, the contraction is fo violent as to oc- 

 cafion another pain in conlequence of their own toa 

 violent contraction, as foon a the original pain, which 

 caufed the contradion, is removed. And hence the 

 cramp, or fpafm, of thefe mufcles is continued without 

 intermiflion by this new pain, unlike thealternate con- 

 vulfions and remiflions in epileptic fits. The reafony 

 that the contraction of thefe mufcles of the calf of 

 the leg is more violent during their convulfion than 

 that of others, depends on the weaknefs of their 

 antagonift mufcles ; for after thefe have been con- 

 traded in their ufual adion, as at every flep in 

 walking, they are again extended, not, as mod 



other 



