notice of, is the trifmus, or locked jaw, which is by the vulgar improperly named the Falling of the Jaw. But this is not the only fymptom, as, for the most part, it has all the fame symptoms as the Opisthotonos and Tetanus ftrictly fo called, and which occur in the other varieties of tetanic complaints above described. Like the other varieties of tetanus, this is most frequent in warm climates; but is not, like thofe arifing from the application of cold, entirely confined to fuch warm climates, as inftances of it have occurred in most of the northern countries of Europe. In these latter it seems to be more frequent in certain districts than in others; but in what manner limited, I cannot determine. It seems to be more frequent in Switzerland than in France. I am informed of its frequently occurring in the Highlands of Scotland, but I have never met with any inftance of it in the low country. The

particular causes of it are not well known ; and various conjectures have been offered; but none of them are fatisfying. It is a disease that has been almoft conftantly fatal; and this, also, commonly in the course of a few days. The women are so much perfuaded of its inevitable fatality, that they feldom or never call for the affiftance of our art. This has occafioned our being little acquainted with the hiftory of the disease, or with the effects of remedies in it. Analogy, however, would lead us to employ the fame remedies that have proved useful in the other cafes of tetanus; and the few experiments that are yet recorded, seem to approve of fuch a practice.

CHAP.

CHA P. II.

OF EPILEPSY.

MCCLXXXII.

N what sense I use the term Convulfion,

IN

I have explained above in MCCLVI..

The convulfions that affect the human body are in several refpects various; but I am to confider here only the chief and moft frequent form in which they appear, and which is in the disease named Epilepfy. This may be defined, as confifting in convulfions

VOL. III.

X

vulfions of the greater part of the muscles of voluntary motion, attended with a lofs of fenfe, and ending in a state of insensibility, and seeming sleep.

MCCLXXXIII.

The general form or principal circumstances of this disease, are much the fame in all the different perfons whom it affects. It comes by fits, which often attack perfons feemingly in perfect health; and, after lafting for fome time, pass off, and leave the perfons again in their usual state. These fits are fometimes preceded by certain fymptoms, which, to perfons who have before experienced such a fit, may give notice of its approach, as we shall hereafter explain; but even these preludes do not commonly occur long before the formal attack, which in most cases comes on fuddenly without any fuch warning.

The

The perfon attacked lofes fuddenly all fense and power of motion; fo that, if standing, he falls immediately, or perhaps, with convulsions, is thrown, to the ground. In that fituation he is agitated with violent convulfions, variously moving his limbs and the trunk of his body. Commonly the limbs on one fide of the body, are more violently or more confiderably agitated than those upon the other. In all cafes the muscles of the face and eyes are much affected, exhibiting various and violent diftortions of the countenance. The tongue is often affected, and thrust out of the mouth; while the mufcles of the lower jaw are also affected; and, shutting the mouth with violence while the tongue is thrust out between the teeth, that is often grievously wounded.

While thefe convulfions continue, there is commonly at the fame time a frothy moisture iffuing from the mouth. These

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