Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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consequence of debility, but he is certainly mistaken. I think that a plethoric state of the system does sometimes produce it, it is often cured by a turgescence of the vessels of the brain, and opium must be improper, but it often arises from an irritation of the nerves, when our medicine is verry usefull and particularly when the disease is periodical, the frequent use of it however must increase the turgessence of the vessels of the brain. Dr Cullen found it usefull depending on an acute epilepsy, this is so called from its sensation which is like that of cold air or cold water applied to the part, the patient feels on the top of the head or foot a circumscribed coldness about the size of a dime, this rapidly travels to the head, it often originates in pain like the sting of an insect. I think that the aura Epileptica is the same or verry near to the aura arthritica, in many cases a tournaquet or any bandage applied to the limb, will prevent the coldness, from reacting to the head, opium is a very powerfull means of preventing this return, many cases of Epilepsy come on during sleep, these are sometimes ended by giving opium before going to bed, the reason of the coming on at night appear to be from a horizontal position determining the blood to the head and thereby producing a turgessence of the vessels of the part, and to this the

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increased warmth of the bed, and clothes, the patient should endeavor to sleep in an erect a posture as possible, either sitting up or having the head of the bed elevated, he should always preceive himself as cold as possible.

Histeria. In this common affection opium is much recommended, this disease like Epilepsy often depends on a plethoric state of the system, and in such cases opium must be improper but when there are irregular feelings depending on the mobility of the system opium is proper. Dr Cullen however says that the frequent use of opium increases the mobility of the system, in those cases of hysteria depending upon the passions of the mind opium is usefull in large doses.

Palpitations of the Heart. Are sometimes owing to an organic affection of that organ, but it frequently arises from spasm, here opium is extremely usefull.

Asthma. Opium is sometimes injurious or when it depends on a turgessence of the vessels of the lungs, but in asthma of Spasmodic or Catarrhall affections it is a usefull remdy. I believe asthma is often an arthritic affection from observations in my practice. I know a Lady of a gouty family who has violent attacks of asthma, and nothing relieves her but the pain setting in her feet when the asthma leaves her, the same remarks apply to palpitation, this sometimes goes of in the form