[ 352 3 
extraordinarily weakened, that it is in many inftances 
dangerous to fubjedt the patient to an eredf pofture, 
even though it be hut for a very little time (8). Syn- 
copes and even fatal deliquia and comatofe affec- 
tions have been the confequence. In fcurvies too 
where the whole fyftem is become very lax and ten- 
der, and has loft much of its tonic and vital elafticity, 
the fame phenomena have occurred (9). In thefe 
cafes the neceflity of the horizontal, or at lead the re- 
cumbent pofture, is maniteft ; as it is obvious how 
much more force is requilite to throw the blood up into 
the head in an eredt than in an horizontal pofition. 
It is probable that the extreme weaknefs and flow 
recovery of fome women, particularly fuch as are of 
a delicate conftitution, after a hard labour depends 
often upon the weaknefs of the heart, occafioned by 
the force it fuftained during the throws of labour. 
In thefe cafes, though reft is among the firft methods 
of recovery, yet I think I have obferved the ule of 
the quinquina to be attended with good fuccefs. 
To conclude, it is probable that cafes of this kind 
occur much oftener dian we are aware of ; as, doubt- 
lefs, the difledtion of morbid bodies, were that but 
more frequently allowed of, would teach us. There 
is room to think, that this is the cafe, though not 
in the degree of the inftance before us, in almoft all 
difeafes arifing from a weak and lax fibre. Chefelden 
tells us, in his Anatomy, that in perfons “ that died 
“ of a dropfy, he always obferved the heart large, its 
(8) Vide Hoffman. Opera, Tom. II. p. 72. Tom. VI. 
p. 169. De Situ ere£to in Morbis periculofts valde noxio. 
{9) Engalen. De Scorbuto, p. 226. et paflim. 
“ fibres 
