(584 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO I763. 



was done during the depth of winter, and that a severely cold one, no scruples 

 in his mind could arise on this head. 



Perhaps some might be of opinion, that even the cold weather contributed to 

 cure this disorder. But it is well known that warmth relaxes the animal fibres, 

 and that cold constipates and braces them. In this case, the muscles, composed 

 of minute fibres, were as rigid and tense as they well could be, even in a diseased 

 and obstructed state. If cold therefore contributed any thing, it was to make 

 this case worse. And this was conformable to the opinion of Aretaeus, (lib. i. 

 cap. vi) who, among the causes of the disease, reckons intense cold ; and says, 

 " that for this reason the winter of all the seasons is most productive of this 

 disease." He subjoins, " that women are more subject to it than men, on ac- 

 count of the coldness of their constitution." Celsus (lib. ii. cap, i) likewise ex- 

 pressly asserts, that cgld sometimes is the cause of it, and in another part of his 

 excellent work he says, " that the greatest caution should be used to defend the 

 patient from cold; and that therefore the fire in his room should be constant." 

 He also recommends warm bathing, both in water and oil, as conducive to the 

 cure of the disease. To these may be added the sentiments of Caelius Au- 

 relianus, (De Morb. Acutis, lib. iii. cap. vi, viii) who considers that cold is fi-e- 

 quently the cause of this disease. He recommends various kinds of warm ex- 

 ternal applications, such as warm bathing, rubbing the affected parts with warm 

 oil, the application of warm cataplasms, bags of heated bran, or linseed. With 

 Celsus, this author recommends that attention be given to the warmth of the 

 patient's chamber. How far therefore, for the reasons and authorities before- 

 mentioned, cold weather could probably assist in the cure of this case, needed 

 not in his opinion be insisted on. 



March 27th, 17^3, the patient continued well, her jaw was as loose as ever. 

 The electrizing had been discontinued above a month, and she was in every res- 

 pect perfectly recovered. 



July 8th, 1763, the patient was perfectly well, and there remained not the 

 least indications of her having been diseased. 



F'lJ. On the late Mild Weather in Cornwall; and on the Quantity of Rain fallen 

 , there in the Year 1762. ' By the Rev. Wm. Borlase, M. A., F. R. S. p. 27. 



Our winters in Cornwall are generally more mild than any where in this island, 

 but Mr. B. did not remember so wide a diflference as that of the present season 

 there and London. In November, on the 12th, 13th, 14th, our frost began, 

 mostly attended with hoar frosty moniings : here and there a pool of still water 

 had a film over it, scarcely strong enough to bear an egg, not a large pebble; 

 and the frost was always over before noon. Frost of the same degree on the 18th 

 and 20th, hoar frost only the 26th. Frost, but of no greater degree, Dec. 5th, 



