I 



CLASS II. 2. 2. 2. OF SENSATION. 267 



leptica, in which a total lofs of appetite, and of the power of di- 

 geftion, fuddenly occurred along with epileptic fits. Mifs B. a 

 girl about eighteen, apparently very healthy, and rather plump, 

 was feized with fits, which were at firft called hyfterical ; they 

 occurred at the end of menftruation, and returned very fre- 

 uently with total lofs of appetite. She was relieved by vene- 

 "eclion, blifters, and opiates ; her ftrength dirninimed, and af- 

 ter fome returns of the fits, the took to her bed, and has furvi- 

 ved 15 or 20 years; fhe has in general eaten half a potato a 

 day, and feldom fpeaks, but retains her fenfes, and had many 

 years occafional returns of convulfion. I have feen two fimilar 

 cafes, where the anorexia, or want of appetite, was in lefs degree ; 

 and but juft fo much food could be digefted, as fupplied them 

 with fufficient ftrength to keep from the bed or fofa for half a 

 day. As well as I can recollect, all thefe patients were attend- 

 ed with weak pulfe, and cold pale fkin ; and received benefit by 

 opium, from a quarter of a grain to a grain four times a day. 

 See ClafsIII. i. i. 7. and III. i. 2. 20. and Suppl. I. 14. 3. 



2. Adipfia. Want of third. Several of the inferior people, 

 as farmers' wives, have a habit of not drinking with their dinner 

 at all, or only take a fpoonful or two of ale after it. I have 

 frequently oberved thefe to labour under bad digeftion, and de- 

 bility in confequence ; which I have afcribed to the too great 

 ftimulus of folid food undiluted, deftroying in procefs of time 

 the irritability of the ftomach. 



3. Impotentia (agenea.) Impotency much feldomer happens 

 to the male fex than {rerility to the female fex. Sometimes a 

 temporary impotence occurs from bafhfulnefs, or the interfer- 

 ence of fome voluntary exertion in the production of an effect, 

 which ihould be performed alone by pleafurable fenfatiori. 



One, who was foon to be married to 3 lady of fupenor con- 

 dition to his own, exprefled fear of not fucceeding on the wed- 

 ding night ; he was advifed to take a grain of opium before he 

 went to bed, and to accuftom himfelf to fleep with a woman 

 previously, but not to enjoy her, to take off his baihfulnefs ; 

 which fucceeded to his wifh. 



Mr. John Hunter in his work on the Venereal Difeafe,has given 

 an ingenious feclion on this fubjecl of mental impotence, in which 

 he relates a fuccefsful mode of treatment. He prevailed on aperfon 

 in this fituation to promife on his honor to pafs fix nights in bed 

 with a young woman without attempting to have connection with 

 her, whatever might be his power or inclination. He after- 

 wards affured Mr. Hunter, that this refolution had produced 

 fuch a total alteration in the ftate of his mind, that the power of 

 connection foon recurred, for inftead of going to bed with the 



fear 



