PART II.

OF

NEUROSES,

OR

NERVOUS DISEASES.

MXC.

Na certain view, almost the whole of

IN

the diseases of the human body might be called NERVOUS: but there would be no use for such a general appellation; and,

VOL. III.

I

on

on the other hand, it feems improper to limit the term, in the loose inaccurate manner in which it has been hitherto applied, to hysteric and hypochondriacal disorders, which are themselves hardly to be defined with fufficient precifion.

MXCI.

In this place I propose to comprehend, under the title of NEUROSES, all those preternatural affections of fense or motion, which are without pyrexia as a part of the primary disease; and all those which do not depend upon a topical affection of the organs, but upon a more general affection of the nervous system, and of those powers of the fyftem upon which sense and motion more especially depend.

MXCII.

Of such diseases I have established a class, under the title of NEUROSES, or NERVOUS DISEASES. These I again diftinguish, as they confift, either in the interruption and debility of the powers of fenfe and motion, or in the irregularity with which these powers are exercised; and have accordingly arranged them under the four orders of Comata, Adynamia, Spafmi, and Vefania, to be defined as we proceed to treat of them more particularly.

BOOKI

OF COM A TA,

OR OF THE

LOSS OF VOLUNTARY MOTION.

MXCIII.

NDER this title are comprehended

UNI

thofe affections which have been commonly called the Soporofe diseases; but they are most properly distinguished by their confifting in fome interruption

or

or fuppreffion of the powers of sense and voluntary motion, or of what are called the animal-functions. These are indeed usually suspended in the time of 'natural fleep: but of all the diseases to be comprehended under our title, fleep, or even the appearance of it, is not constantly a symptom. Of such diseases I can mark and properly explain two genera only, which come under the titles of Apoplexy and Palfy.