498 DISEASES OF VOLITION. SECT. XXXIV. 3, 



movements of the fyftem, which are generally only 

 a^uated by the power of irritation, and of affocia- 

 tion. 



Another cafe I recollect of a young man, about 

 twenty-five, who had the fcarlet-fever, with very 

 quick pulfe, and an univerfal eruption on his (kin, 

 and was not without reafon efteemed to be in great 

 danger of his life. After a few days an infanity 

 fupervened, which his friends miftook for delirium, 

 and he gradually recovered, and the cuticle peele4 

 off. From thefe and a few other cafes I have always 

 efteemed infanity to be a favourable llgn in fevers, 

 and have cautioufly diftinguifhed it from delirium. 



III. Another mode of merital exertion to relieve 

 pain, is by producing a train of ideas not only by 

 the efforts of volition, as in infanity ; but by thofe 

 of fenfation likewife, as in delirium and deep. This 

 mental effort is termed reverie, or fomnambulation, 

 and is defcribed more at large in Seel. XIX. on that 

 fubject. But I fhall here relate another cafe of that 

 wonderful difeafe, which fell yefterday under my 

 eye, and to which I have feen many analogous ali- 

 enations of mind, though not exadlly fimilar in all 

 circurriftances. But as all of them either began or; 

 terminated with pain or convulfion, there can be no 

 doubt but that they are of epileptic origin, and 

 conftitute another mode of mental exertion to re- 

 lieve fome painful fenfation. 



i. Mafter A. about nine years old, had been 

 feized at feven every morning fpr ten days ttith un- 

 common fits, and had had flight returns in the after- 

 noon. They were fuppofed to originate from worms, 

 and had been in vain attempted to be removed by 

 vermifuge purges. As his fit was expected at feven 

 yefterday morning, I faw him before that hour ; he 

 was aileep, feemed free from pain, and his pulfe 

 natural. About feven he began to complain of pain 

 about his navel, or more to the left fide, and in a 



few 



