NERVOUS AFFECTION CURED BY PRESSING THE CAROTIDS. 



3W 



effect might perhaps be produced, by compressing the carotid 

 of the side affected. The event was exactly conformable 

 to my expectation. Strong pressure on the right carotid 

 uniformly stopped all the vibrations, while that on the left 

 had no apparent influence. I may add, that these experi- 

 ments were afterward, at my request, repeated on this lady 

 in London by Dr. Baillie, and, as he informed me in a let- 

 ter, with a similar result. 



It is perfectly well known to many of the learned mem- 

 bers of this Society, that irritations of the brain, when of 

 moderate force, usually exhibit their effects on the nerves 

 or muscles of the opposite side of the body; and in the 

 case before us, it is difficult to understand how the suspen- 

 sion of these automatic motions could have been produced 

 by this pressure of the opposite caroiid, in any other way 

 than by the interruption of the excessive flow of blood 

 through a vessel morbidly dilated ; in consequence of which 

 interruption, the undue irritation of the brain was removed, 

 and the muscular fibres permitted to resume their usual state 

 of rest. 



From these and many other similar facts, I am disposed Undue impulse 

 to conclude, that irritation of the brain, from undue im- ° f b!o( , >d oathe 



7 ' Oram the coui- 



pulse of blood, is the common though not the only cause mon cause of 

 of spasmodic and nervous affections: and I can with t ne s P a<5n » k „** 



1 7 nervous attpB- 



most precise regard to truth add, that a mode of practice, Hon. 

 conformable to this principle, has enabled me, during more 

 than twenty years, to cure a vast number of such maladies, 

 which had resisted the usual means. 



An investigation of all the modifications of the principle 

 itself, and of its numerous relations to therapeutics, would 

 be inconsistent with the views of -the Royal Society, and 

 must be reserved for another place, 



Bath, Dec. 8, 1810. 



VII. A concise 



