228 HYDROPHOBIA. 



lowing, which in the latter stages of the 

 disease is so great, that, although the patients 

 are almost famishing from intense thirst, 

 they cannot bear the sight of liquids; even 

 talking of them, by associating the idea of 

 swallowing, instantly brings on, or increases 

 the spasms; and I imagine death to be the 

 consequence of their violence; stopping 

 respiration and BY THAT, the circulation. 



Sudden light, noise, the appearance of a 

 stranger, or a rush of air will bring on the 

 fit, which indicates great nervous irritability : 

 tentigo also attend; these are all concomi- 

 tant symptoms, but the grand characteristic 

 one, and that which causes death, is I con- 

 ceive, the spasmodic action of the diaphragm. 

 Whenever death is occasioned by any sudden 

 fright, I think it is much in the same way. 



On reading Doctor Hutchinson's proemi- 

 um for January 1821, I was sensibly struck 

 with the observations therein of Drs. Hutch- 

 inson, Curson, and Ker, and the experiments 



