6 
Mr. Home's Lecture 
a sudden change in the weather from hot to cold, and the wind 
having shifted to the north, blew directly upon his right arm, 
which was accidentally exposed. In the morning when he 
awoke his arm was in a very uneasy state. This however went 
off; but there was a pain in the muscles situated between the 
thumb and fore finger, and those of the fore-arm, which con- 
tinued, and gave him great uneasiness. As it was supposed 
to be paralytic, blisters were applied to the origin of the nerves 
at the shoulder, and a visit to Bath was agreed upon as a ne- 
cessary measure. The effects of the blister rather increased the 
complaint, which raised a doubt about its nature; and I found, 
upon a careful investigation, that particular muscles only were 
affected, which suggested an inquiry into the use that had been 
made of them. This inquiry led to a discovery of the real na- 
ture of the complaint, as only those muscles used in dealing 
cards were particularly affected. They were not in pain while 
at rest, but were unable to bear the least action without con- 
siderable uneasiness. This was greater at some times, than 
others ; and although a year has now elapsed since the com- 
plaint came on, it is not entirely removed. 
One of the principal tavern keepers in London was rendered 
very uneasy by a pain in the fore-arm, close to the elbow, which 
at times was very severe. Upon examining the parts, the pain 
was evidently not in the joint, but appeared to arise from an affec- 
tion of the supinator brevis muscle, as the motion of that muscle 
gave pain. This I stated to him, but told him I was at a loss to 
find out in what way that part could have been injured; this was 
readily cleared up, when he informed me that the greatest pain 
he felt was in drawing claret corks, which he did with a jerk or 
sudden motion of the arm, and it was immediately after an 
