CLASS III. 1.1.7. OF VOLITION. 285 







in the fame manner in about half an hour, both which evidently 

 (hortened the convulfion fits, and the confequent ilupor ; he 

 then took thirty more drops, which for the prefent removed the 

 fits. He became rather infane the next day, and after about 

 three more days loft the infanity, and recovered his ufual ftate 

 of health. 



The cafe mentioned in Sect. XXVII. 2. where the patient 

 was left after epileptic fits with a fuffufion of blood beneath the 

 tunica adjuncliva of the eye, was in almofl every refpect fimilar 

 to the preceding, and fubmitted to the fame treatment. Both 

 of them fuffered frequent relapfes, which were relieved by the 

 fame means, and at length periflied, I believe, by the epileptic fits. 

 In thofe patients, who have not been fubjecl to epilepfy be- 

 fore they have arrived to about forty years of age, and who 

 have been intemperate in refpe<!t to fpirituous potation, I have 

 been induced to believe, that the fits were occafioned by the 

 pain of a difeafed liver ; and this became more probable in one 

 of the above fubje&s, who had ufed means to repel eruptions 

 on the face ; and thus by fome ftimularrt application had pre- 

 vented an inflammation taking place on the fkin of the face in- 

 ilead of on fome part of the liver. Secondly, as in thefe cafes in- 

 fanity had repeatedly occurred, which could not be traced from 

 an hereditary fource ; there is reafon to believe, that this as well 

 as the epileptic convulOons were caufed by fpirituous potation ; 

 and that this therefore is the original fource both of epilepfy 

 and of infanity in thofe families, which are afflifted with them. 

 This idea however brings fome confolation with it; as it mayje 

 inferred, that in a few fober generations thefe difeafes may be 

 eradicated, which otherwife deftroy the family. 



M. M. Venefeclion. Opium. Bark. Steel. Arfenic. 

 Opium one grain twice a day for years together. See the pre- 

 ceding article, and the fucceeding one. 



Anorexia epileptica t as mentioned in ClafsII. 2. 2. I. is a dread- 

 ful difeafe, originating, I believe, from a paralyfis of the ftorh- 

 ach, and generally occafioned by the application of great exter- 

 nal cold to the fkin. A young lady, whom I faw yefterday, who 

 had long experienced a weak fiate of health, went to church on 

 an uncommonly cold Sunday, when the thermometer was faid 

 to ftand below 20 during the whole day. "She became immedi- 

 ately indifpofed, and was feized in a day or two with tremors 

 and convulfions in her fleep ; and which returned every two or 

 three days. Her extremities are now always uncommonly cold, 

 and her appetite to food totally defective. She took three drops 

 of a faturated folution of arfenic and a bitter draught twice a day 

 for a fortnight, and gradually recovered her former ftate of health. 



Another 



