92 A VOYAGE TO Book VII. 



patient, colitrary to nature, inclines backward into an 

 arch, and all the bones become difldcated. However 

 terrible the pains refulting from hence may feem, they 

 are ftill increafed by thofe of the other fpecies of 

 convuifions, when the violence is fuch that the pa- 

 tient ufually lofes all fenfation, and falls into a 

 total inaction, not having breath to utter his com- 

 plaints. 



It is common at the beginning of this diftemper 

 to be totally convulfed, fo that every part of the 

 patient is affecled, and, during the continuance, is, 

 as it were, deprived of all fenfation. Their return 

 is more frequent and lading as the diftemper in- 

 creafes, till nature becom.es entirely fpent ; when the 

 lethargic fits fucceed, and it is generally in one of 

 thefe that the patient breathes his laft. 



The ufual method of treating this diftemper is 

 by keeping both the bed, and the chamber very 

 clofe, even with a fire in it, that the pores being 

 opened by the heat, the tranfpiration may be more 

 copious. Laxative clyfters are often injeded to 

 mollify the contradions of the inteftines, and other 

 internal parts. External applications are alfo ap- 

 plied to foften the parts, and open the duels by 

 which nature may evacuate the morbid humour. For 

 the fame intention and to check its progrefs, cor- 

 dials and diuretic draughts are prefcribed ; and alfo 

 the bath ; but the latter only at the beginning of the 

 firft ftage of the diftemper; for if it is found to 

 increafe on the fecond day, bathing is no longer 

 ordered. 



, Tk£ vi'-pmen of Lima are fubjecl to a diftemper, 

 cxtreamly painful, very contagious, and almoft in- 

 curable : namely, a cancer in the matrix, which even 

 EC the beginning is attended with fuch excruciating 

 pains, that their lives are one continued feries of 

 groans and complaints. During its progrefs, they 

 difcharge great quantities of morbid humours, be- 

 come 



