596 ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA, 



pox is alfo known here as at Quito, but is not annual, though, when it prevails, great 

 numbers are fwept away by it. 



Convulfions are likewife very common, and no lefs fatal. This diforder, though 

 unknown at Quito, is frequent all over Valles, but more dangerous in fome parts than 

 others. Something has already been faid of this diftempej in our account of Carthagena, 

 but a more circumftantial defcription of it was referved for this place. 



This diflemper is divided into two kinds, the common or partial, and the malignant 

 or arched convulfions. They both come on when nature is ftruggling in the crifis of 

 fome acute diftemper, but with this important difference, that thofe attacked with the" 

 former often recover, though the greater part die on the third or fourth day, the term 

 of its duration; while thofe who have the misfortune of being attacked by the latter, 

 (ink under it in two or three days, it being very extraordinary to recover, and is there- 

 fore termed malignant. 



The fpafms or convulfions confift in a total inadivity of the mufcles, and a conftric- 

 tion of the nerves of the whole body, beginning with thofe of the head ; and thefe nerves 

 being the channels which convey nourifhment to the body, and this nourifhment being 

 precluded by the conftriftion of its conduits, they all fuccellively fuffer ; the mufcles, by 

 having loft their activity, cannot aflift in the motion of the nerves, and thefe being con- 

 ftringed, can no longer perform their office. Add to this a pungent humour dif- 

 perfmg itfelf through all the membranes of the body, and caufmg infupportable pains ; 

 fo that the groaning patient labours under inconceivable tortures, which are flill in- 

 creafed on his being moved, though .with the greateft care and gentlenefs, from one fide 

 to the other. The throat is fo contraded that nothing can be conveyed into the fto- 

 mach. The jaws are alfo fometimes fo clofely locked, as impoHible to be opened : thus 

 the miferable patient lies without motion, and tortured in every part of his body, till 

 natur,e quite exhaufted, falls a vidim to this deleterious diftemper. 



In the partial kind, the pulfe is more affefted than in the diftemper which preceded 

 it, and commonly abates the violence of a fever. But in the malignant kind it augments, 

 the circulations being quickened ; and whether it be the effeft of the humour impetu- 

 oufly circulating through every part, or of the pain proceeding from the laceration of 

 the membranes and abrading the mufcles, the patient falls into a lethai^gy, but which 

 does not remove the torturing fenfation of thefe punftures, often fo infupportable, that 

 the miferable patient violently turns himfelf, and thus augments his agonies, as evidently 

 appears from his piercing cries and groans. 



The malignant and arched fpafm, even in the firft ftage, is fo violent as to caufe a con- 

 traftion of the nerves of the vertebrae from the brain downwards ; and as the diftemper 

 increafes, and the malignant humour acquires great aftivity, the nerves become more 

 and more conftrifted, that the body of the patient, contrary to nature, inclines back- 

 ward into an arch, and all the bones become dillocated. However terrible the pains re- 

 fulting from hence may feera, they are ftill increafed by thofe of the other fpecies of con- 

 vulfions, when the violence is fuch that the patient ufually lofes all fenfation, and falls 

 into a total inadion, not having breath to utter his complaints. 



It is common at the beginning of this diftemper to be totally convulfed, fo that every 

 part of the patient is affeded, and, during the continuance, is, as it were, deprived of 

 all fenfation. Their return is more frequent and lafting as the diftemper increafes, till 

 nature becomes entirely fpent, when the lethargy fits fucceed, and it is generally in one of 

 thefe that the patient breathes his laft. 



Theufual method of treating this diftemper is by keeping both the bed and the cham- 

 ber very clofe, even with a fire in it, that the pores being opened by the heat, the tran- 

 I fpiration 



