ly M. Corvisart, professor in the
hospital of La Charite, at Paris, from whose clinical
lectures is derived the most important information.]

CASE I.

The symptoms of organic disease of the heart are marked with
extraordinary clearness in the following case. The opportunity for
observing them was very favourable; and there was every incitement to
close observation, which could arise from the important and
interesting character of the patient. These advantages will justify an
uncommon minuteness in the detail of the case; especially, as the most
accurate knowledge of a complaint is obtained from a successive view
of its stages.

The late Governour of this commonwealth was endowed with most vigorous
powers of mind and body. At the age of sixteen he was attacked with
fits of epilepsy, which first arose from a sudden fright, received on
awaking from sleep in a field, and beholding a large snake erecting
its head over him. As he advanced in life they became more frequent,
and were excited by derangement of the functions of the stomach, often
by affections of the mind, by dreams, and even by the sight of the
reptile which first produced the convulsions.

At the commencement of the American revolution he became deeply
engaged in public affairs; and from that time devoted himself to
intense application to business, with which the preservation of his
health was never allowed to interfere. In the expedition against Rhode
Island, an attack of inflammation of the lungs had nearly proved fatal
to him.

In the beginning of the year 1807, he suffered severely from the
epidemic catarrh; and a remarkable irregularity of the pulse was then
perceived to be permanent, though there is some reason to believe,
that this irregularity had previously existed, during the fits of
epilepsy, and for a few days after them. In the summer, while he was
apparently in good health, the circulation in the right arm was
suddenly and totally suspended; yet, without loss of motion or
sensation. This affection lasted from noon till midnight, when it as
suddenly ceased, and the circulation was restored. In the autumn he
was again seized with the influenza, which continued about three
weeks, leaving a troublesome cough of two or three months' duration,
and a slight occasional difficulty of breathing, which at that time
was not thought worth attention. Soon after, in November, he had one
or two singular attacks of