CiSEASES CLASS tti.i.t.434> 



changed Suddenly by ocular fenfation, or reafotl. Yet gfeaf, 

 perfeverance in the frequently preferring contrary ideas will 

 fometimes flowly remove this hallucination, or in great length 

 of time oblivion, or forgetfulnefs, performs a cure > by other 

 means in vain attempted. 



23. Tabes imaginar'm. This imaginary difeafe, or hallucina 

 tion, is Cdufed by the fuppofed too great frequency of parting 

 with the femen, and had long impofed upon the phyfician a? 

 well as the patient, till Mr. John Hunter rirft endeavoured to 

 (hew, that in general the morbid effects of this pollution were 

 in the imagination ; and that thofe were only liable to thofe ef* 

 fec~t.s in general, who had been terrified by the vilianous books, 

 which pretend to prevent or to cure it, but which were purpofely 

 written to vend fome quack medicine. Moft of thofe unhappy 

 patients, whom I have feen, had evidently great impreflion of 

 fear and feJf-condemnatiott on their minds, and might be led to 

 make contradictory complaints in almoft any part of the body, 

 and if their confeflions could be depended on, had not ufed this 

 pollution to any great excefs. 



M. M. i. Allure them if the lofs of the femen happens but 

 twice a week, it will not injure them. ^. Marry them. Thd 

 lad is a certain cure ; whether the difeafe be real or imaginary^ 

 Cold partial bath, and aftringent medicines frequently taken, on- 

 ly recal the mind to the difeafe, or to the delinquency ; and 

 thence increafe the imaginary effects and the real caufe, if fuch 

 exifrs. Mr. deftroyed himfelf to get free from the pain 

 of fear of the fuppofed ill confluences of felf-pollution, without 

 any other apparent difeafe ; whofe parents I had in vain advifed 

 to marry him, if poflible. 



24. Sympathta aliena* Pity. Our fynipathy with the pleaf- 

 ures and pains of others diflinguifhes men from other animals } 

 and is probably the foundation of v/hat is termed our moral fenfe \ 

 and the fource of all our virtues. See Sect. XXII. 3. 3. 

 When our fympathy with thofe miferies of mankind, which we 

 cannot alleviate, rifes to excefs, the mind becomes its own tor- 

 mentor ; and we add to the aggregate fum of human mifery, 

 \vhich we ought to labour to diminifh ; as in the following elo 

 quent lamentation from Akenfide's Pleafures of Imagination, 

 Book II. 1. 200. 



Dark, 



As midnight ftorms, the fcene of human things 

 Appear'd before me ; deferts, burning fands, 

 Where the parch'd adder dies ; the frozen fouth \ 

 And defolation blafting all the weft 

 With rapine and with murdrr. Tyrant power 

 Here fits enthroned in blooa ; the baleful 



