catarrhal affection of the mucous membrane
of the lungs, which commenced with a sense of suffocation, succeeded
by cough and an expectoration of cream coloured mucus, to the quantity
of a quart in an hour, with coldness of the extremities, lividity of
the countenance, and a deathlike moisture over the whole body. These
attacks lasted six or eight hours, were relieved by emetics, and
disappeared, without leaving a trace behind.

At this time he began to complain of palpitations of the heart; yet,
it is probable, that he had been affected with these before, since he
was unaccustomed to mention any complaint, which was not sufficiently
distressing to require relief. He experienced a difficulty of
respiring, as he ascended the stairs, and became remarkably
susceptible of colds, from slight changes of clothing, moisture of the
feet, or a current of cold air. His sleep was unquiet in the night,
and attended with very profuse perspiration; and, in the latter part
of the day, a troublesome heaviness occurred. The sanguiferous vessels
underwent an extraordinary increase, or, at least, became remarkably
evident. The pulsation of the carotid arteries was uncommonly strong;
the radial arteries seemed ready to burst from their sheaths; the
veins, especially the jugulars, in which there was often a pulsatory
motion, were every where turgid with blood. The countenance was high
coloured, and commonly exhibited the appearance of great health; but,
when he was indisposed from catarrh, this florid red changed to a
livid colour; which also, after an attack of epilepsy, was observable
for two or three days on the face and hands. This livid hue was often
attended, under the latter circumstances, with something like
ecchymosis over the face, at first formidable in its aspect, and
gradually subsiding, till it had the general appearance of an
eruption, which also soon vanished.

These symptoms increased, almost imperceptibly, during the five first
months of the year 1808. Much of this time was passed in close
application to official duties; and it seemed that a constant and
regular occupation of the mind had the effect of obviating the
occurrence of any paroxysm of disease, as well of epilepsy, as of
difficult respiration; and that a very sudden and disagreeable
impression generally produced either one or the other. There were,
indeed, independently of such circumstances, some occasional
aggravations of those symptoms. Some nights, for exampl