[ 744 ] 
from performing, feveral of her necefiary functions. 
When the mufcles, for inftance, fubfervient to de- 
glutition had been convulfed, for many hours after 
the fits had left her, fhe has not been able to fwallow 
a fingle drop of liquid : fo that when attempts have 
been made to caufe her to drink, unlefs the liquor 
was immediately thrown back, there was imminent 
danger of her being firangled. When her eyes have 
been afFedted, feveral times a compleat gutta J'erena . , 
and total blindnefs, has enfued ; the patient being 
able to bear the firong day-light with open eyes, 
without being fenfible of its influence, or in the 
leaft contracting her widely dilated pupils. After 
one of thefe fits the blindnefs continued full five 
days ; and I began to be in fear for the return of her 
fight. 
You, Sir, who are fo excellently well verfed in 
the animal oeconomy, are not to be informed, that 
vocification is performed in the afpera arteria ; but 
that the articulation of founds into fyllables and words 
is modulated principally by the tongue, and mufcles 
about the larynx. In the cafe before you, very early 
in the difeafe, the fpafms feized the mufcles about 
the larynx : the confequence of which was, that after 
they were over, the patient was unable to utter a 
word. This faculty however fhe again once reco- 
vered ; but it continued a very fhort time, as the 
fits returned, which again left her deprived of the 
power of fpeech. AYter having loft her voice a 
fecond time, her power of fpeech did not return, 
even after fhe was freed from her convulfions, and 
her general health reftored. Fourteen months pafied, 
whilft this patient continued abfolutely fpeechlefs ; 
when, 
