OF SERPEN TS. 159 



different Parts of the Body, and is communicatevl to thofe Nerves, 

 according as it finds them more or lefs in Uriijbn .... Hence the 

 Paffions and Madnefs itfelf. Ibid. 



In Mufick are different Taftes, which feems to proceed from 

 the different Conftitutions of the Fibres or the animal Spirits : The 

 Fibres of the auditory Nerve's are differently difpofed in different 

 Perfons, and in the fame Perfon at diverfe Times ; but generally 

 fpeaking, Mufick infpires more pleafing Sentiments, e.g. 



A Certain famous French Phyfician being ill, fell into a 

 violent Delirium^ after fome Days lUnefs of a continued Fever : 

 the third Day of his Delirium, I know not by what Inftindt, 

 (fays the Learned Father Regnaidt) made him defire a Concert of 

 Mufick; upon which, they play 'd, and fung to him the Songs of 

 M. Bernier * : Scarcely had he heard the firil Notes, but his Eyes 

 were calm ; a Serenity was fpread all over his Countenance, the 

 Convulfions ceafed, and he wept thro' Excefs of Pleafure ; he was 

 free from his Fever all the time of the Concert, but whenever they 

 ceafed finging, he relapfed into his former Condition: They fail'd 

 not to continue fo marvellous a Remedy, which always fufpended 

 his Indifpofition. In fhort, after ten Days mufical Entertainment, 

 he was reftored to his former Health. Ibid. 



Another Inftance, is a Dancing-Mafter oi Alais in France^ 

 who had the fame Fate in the Year 1708 ; after a Fever of about 

 four Days, and a long Lethargy, he fell into a Delirium, both 

 mad and dumb. One of his Friends took his Violin, and plaid to 

 him thofe Airs he was mod accuftom'd to : People thought at firff, 

 that the Player was as mad as the Patient ; but, in a {hort time, 

 the fick Man raifed himfelf upright in his Bed, with the Air of 

 a Man agreeably fiirpriz'd .... All his Motions difcover'd the 

 Pleafure he felt : Soon after he fell into a deep Sleep, and the 

 Crifis he had during his Sleep, perfefted his Cure, Ibid. 



One Reafon of this ftrange Operation might be this, 'dIz. 

 The Sound of the Inftrument agitates the Fibres, efpecially thofe 

 that are in Unifon, by that means brings to his Remembrance a- 

 greeable Perceptions . . . fets the animal Spirits going, and reftores 

 them to their natural Courfe : Thefe Spirits being moved, run in- 

 to the Nerves and Mufcles, where they have been ufed to run, 

 in order to form the Motion of certain Airs; the Paffages of the 



Blood 



* Father "Regn. from Hijl. of the Eoyal Academy in France. 



