^50 Ejctractsfiom Dr Hibbert’ji Description 
mense -heaps, that appear as an accumulation of cubical masses, 
the product of some quarry. 
\Y, Accoiint of the Religious Paroxysms of the Shetlanders. 
The kirk was remarkably crowded, since there was a sermon 
to be preached incidental to the administration of the Sacra- 
ment ; on which occasion I had an opportunity of seeing the 
convulsion fits to which the religious congregations of Shetland 
are subject. The introduction of this malady into the country 
is referred to a date of nearly a century ago, and is attributed 
to a woman who had been sully ect to regular paroxysms of epi- 
lepsy, one of which occurred during divine service. Among 
adult females, and children of the male sex, at the tender age 
of six, fits then became sympathetic. The patient complained, 
for a considerable time, of a palpitation of the heart ; fainting 
ensued, and a motionless state lasted for more than an hour. 
But, in the course of time, this malady is said to have under- 
gone a modification such as it exhibits at the present day. 
The female, whom it had attacked, would suddenly fall down, 
toss her arms about, writhe her body into various shapes, move 
her head suddenly from side to side, and, with eyes fixed and 
staring, send forth the most dismal cries. If the fit had occur- 
red on any occasion of public diversion, she would, as soon as 
it had ceased, mix with her companions, and continue her 
amusement as if nothing had happened. Paroxysms of this 
kind prevailed most during the warm months of summer ; and 
about fifty years ago, there was scarcely a Sabbath in which 
they did not occur. Strong passions of the mind, induced by 
religious enthusiasm, were also the exciting causes of these fits ; 
but, like all such false tokens of divine workings, they were 
easily counteracted, by producing in patients such opposite 
states of mind, as arise from a sense of shame : thus they are 
under the controul of any sensible preacher, who will admini- 
ster to a mind diseased, — who will expose the folly of volun- 
tarily yielding to a sympathy so easily resisted, or of inviting 
such attacks by affectation. An intelligent and pious minister 
of Shetland informed me, that being considerably annoyed on 
Jiis first introduction into the country by these paroxysms. 
