sease,
seem to arise from the too great violence of those contractions, as happens
in the cramp of the calf of the leg; from which they differ in those being
fixed, and these being reiterated contractions. Thus these convulsions are
generally of the lower limbs, and recur at periodical times from some
uneasy sensation from defect of action, like other periodic diseases; and
the convulsions of the limbs relieve the original uneasy painful sensation,
and then produce a greater pain from their own too vehement contractions.
There is however another way of accounting for these pains, when they
succeed the acute rheumatism; and that is by the coagulable lymph, which
may be left still unabsorbed on the membranes; and which may be in too
small quantity to affect them with pain in common muscular exertions, but
may produce great pain, when the bellies of the muscles swell to a larger
bulk in violent action.

M. M. Venesection. Calomel. Opium. Bark. One grain of calomel and one of
opium for ten successive nights. A bandage spread with emplastrum de minio
put tight on the affected part.

7. _Epilepsia_ is originally induced, like other convulsions, by a
voluntary exertion to relieve some pain. This pain is most frequently about
the pit of the stomach, or termination of the bile-duct; and in some cases
the torpor of the stomach, which probably occasioned the epileptic fits,
remains afterwards, and produces a chronical anorexia; of which a case is
related in Class II. 2. 2. 1. There are instances of its beginning in the
heel, of which a case is published by Dr. Short, in the Med. Essays, Edinb.
I once saw a child about ten years old, who frequently fell down in
convulsions, as she was running about in play; on examination a wart was
found on one ancle, which was ragged and inflamed; which was directed to be
cut off, and the fits never recurred.

When epilepsy first commences, the patients are liable to utter one scream
before they fall down; afterwards the convulsions so immediately follow the
pain, which occasions them, that the patient does not recollect or seem
sensible of the preceding pain. Thus in laughter, when it is not excessive,
a person is not conscious of the pain, which so often recurs, and causes
the successive screams or exertions of laughter, which give a temporary
relief to it.

Epileptic fits frequently recur in sleep from the increase of sensibility
at that time, explained in Sect. XVIII. 14. In two such cases