VOL. IV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 411 



Dr. Willis, in his Pathologia Cerebri, having undertaken to confute the cause* 

 of the hysteric and hypochondriac passions, as assigned by this author in his 

 Exercitations, published in 1660, Dr. Highmore thought himself obliged to 

 write this defence. 



The controversy as to the former of these disorders consists in this, whether 

 the cause of it is to be referred to the genus nervosum, and it be primarily a 

 convulsive symptom, depending on the brain and the nerves; or whether it 

 ought to be imputed to the blood rushing too impetuously into and stuffing up 

 the lungs? Dr. Willis asserts the former, and objects against the latter, of 

 which the vindication is undertaken in this epistle; wherein it is considered 

 among other things : 1 . That the hysteric passion is not always accompanied 

 with convulsions; where also the existence of the succus nutritius (on which 

 Dr. Willis's doctrine seems to depend) is called in question, and several argu- 

 ments alleged to the contrary. 2. That if the succus nutritius in the nerves 

 be by a violent explosion dilated, and that by means of fixed salts mixed in the 

 nerves with acid ones (according to Dr. Willis) ; the same may happen upon the 

 concurrence and conflict of the like salts in the blood. 



Concerning the hypochondriac passion, the question between these two phy- 

 sicians is, whether the first and chief cause of that distemper be the weakness 

 and laxness of the tone of the stomach and its fibres, whereby a vicious chyle 

 and blood is generated, that causes such a fermentation, upon which ensue 

 trembling and palpitations of the heart, swoonings, &c. This is affirmed, and 

 here further asserted by our author, but denied by Dr. Willis ; concerning 

 which, the reader will find the best satisfaction in perusing the writings of both 

 parties. 



III. Nouvelles Experiences sur la Vipere, par M. Charas. Paris, i66q, 8vo. . 

 The author of this curious book, having first taken notice of divers observ- 

 ables in the dissection of vipers, and among them of the salivary glands, he 

 discovered in them as well as in other animals, and those accompanied with 

 lymphatic vessels, passing into a greater vessel running along and under the said 

 glands, and discharging itself into the vesicle of the gingiva, and carrying with 

 it the salival liquor, which he makes to be the same with that yellow water in 

 the bag, hitherto esteemed venomous, but by him reputed a mere harmless sa- 

 liva.* He attempts to prove, that the bitings of vipers, at least of such as are 

 in France, are indeed venomous, and proved actually mortal : he alleges many 



* By referring to the observations of Redi and the notes thereupon (at p. 58 of this vol. of the 

 Abridgement) it will be seen, that Mons. Charas' s assertion concerning the inhoxiousness of the yel- 

 low liquor contained in the vesicle or bag above-mentioned^ is extremely erroneous. 



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