OF LA PEROUSE. 321 



The nervous affection was carried to fo high a 

 degree, that, at each evacuation, the patient ex- 

 perienced fainting fits, during which he was 

 perfectly infenfible. The lower extremities were 

 affected by violent fpafms, occafioning the 

 moil acute pains. 



Although this malady was very contagious, 

 no danger could prevent us from paying our 

 companion all the attention which he had a 

 right to expect from our fri : 1.iu : accordingly 

 we gave up all thoughts of continuing our re- 

 fearches in natural hiftory till he was out of 

 danger. 



The following day, the 16th, the fymptoms 

 became flill more alarming. The pulfe more 

 and more languid, with great intermiflion, the 

 hiccough, which frequently lafted near ten 

 minutes, a great proftration of firength, and a 

 face quite difrorted, made us apprehenlive for 

 the life of the patient. 



The night was equally alarming. 



On the 17th, about daybreak, the pulfe 

 viiibly began to mend; a little foftnefs in the 

 beating of the artery was the forerunner of a 

 copjous perfpiration which came a few hours 

 after, and refcued our friend from the jaws of 

 death. 



His convalefcence lafted not more than a 

 week. 



vol. 1. x This 



