DISEASES CLASS III. i.r. 



eject io feminis, becaufe they do not contribute to diflodge the 

 caufe, but only to prevent the fenfation of it. In two cafes of 

 parturition, both of young women with their firft child, I have 

 feen general convulfions occur from excefs of voluntary exer- 

 tion, as above defcribed, inflead of the actions of particular muf- 

 cles, which ought to have been excited by fenfation for the ex- 

 clufion of the fetus. They both became infenfible, and died af- 

 ter fome hours ; from one of them the fetus was extracted in 

 vain. I have heard alfo of general convulfions being excited 

 inftead of the actions of the mufculi acceleratores in the ejectio 

 ieminis, which terminated fatally. See Clafs III. i. i. 7. 



Thefe violent exertions are moft frequently excited in cori- 

 fequence of thofe pains, which originate from defect of the 

 action of the part. See Sect. XXXIV. i. and 2. The pains 

 from excefs and defect of the action of the part are diftin- 

 guifhable from each other by the former being attended with 

 increafe of heat in the pained part, or of the whole body ; 

 while the latter not only exift without increafe of heat in the 

 pained part, but are generally attended with coldnefs of the ex- 

 tremities of the body. 



As foon as thefe violent actions of our mufcular or fenfual 

 fibres for the purpofe of relieving pain ceafe to be exerted, the 

 pain recurs ; whence the reciprocal contraction and relaxation 

 of the mufcles in convulfion, and the intervals of madnefs. 

 Otherwife thefe violent exertions continue, till fo great a part of 

 the fenibrial power is exhaufted, that no more of it is excitable 

 by the faculty of volition ; and a temporary apoplexy fucceeds, 

 with fnoring as in profound ileep ; which fo generally termin- 

 ates epileptic fits. 



When thefe voluntary exertions become fo connected with 

 certain difagreeable fenfations, or with irritations, that the ef- 

 fort of the will cannot reftrain them, they can no longer in com- 

 mon language be termed voluntary j but neverthelefs belong to 

 this clafs, as they are produced by excefs of volition, and may 

 {till not improperly be called depraved voluntary actions. See 

 Sect. XXXIV. i. where many motions in common language 

 termed involuntary are fhewn to depend on excefs of volition. 

 When thefe exertions from excefs of volition, which in com- 

 mon language are termed involuntary motions, either of mind 

 or body, are perpetually exerted in weak conftitutions, the pulfe 

 becomes quick ; which is occafioned by the too great expendi- 

 ture of the fenforial power in thefe unceafmg modes of activity. 

 In the fame manner as in very weak people in fevers, the pulfe 

 fometimcs incrcafes in frequency to 14 ftrokes in a minute, 

 when the patients ftand up or endeavour to walk ; and fubfuies 



to 



