s
to sympathize with the bowels, but is also frequently produced by the pain
of external cold, and to the too great previous extension of the muscles,
whence some people get the cramp in the extensor muscles of the toes after
walking down hill, and of those of the calf of the leg after walking up a
steep eminence. For the reason why these cramps commence in sleep, see
Sect. XVIII. 15.

The muscle in this disease contracts itself to relieve some smaller pain,
either from irritation or association, and then falls into great pain
itself, from the too great action of its own fibres. Hence any muscle, by
being too vehemently exerted, falls into cramp, as in swimming too forcibly
in water, which is painfully cold; and a secondary pain is then induced by
the too violent contraction of the muscle; though the pain, which was the
cause of the contraction, ceases. Which accounts for the continuance of the
contraction, and distinguishes this disease from other convulsions, which
are relaxed and exerted alternately. Hence whatever may be the cause of the
primary pain, which occasions the cramp of the calf of the leg, the
secondary one is relievable by standing up, and thus by the weight of the
body on the toes forcibly extending the contracted muscles. For the cause,
which induces these muscles of the calf of the leg to fall into more
violent contraction than other spasmodic muscles, proceeds from the
weakness of their antagonist muscles; as they are generally extended again
after action by the weight of the body on the balls of the toes. See the
preceding article.

M. M. Rub the legs with camphor dissolved in oil, and let the patient wear
stockings in bed. If a foot-board be put at the bed's feet, and the bed be
so inclined, that he will rest a little with his toes against the
foot-board, that pressure is said to prevent the undue contractions of the
musculi gastrocnemii, which constitute the calf of the leg. In gouty
patients, or where the bowels are affected with acidity, half a grain of
opium, and six grains of rhubarb, and six of chalk, every night. Flesh-meat
to supper. A little very weak warm spirit and water may be taken for
present relief, when these cramps are very troublesome to weak or gouty
patients.

15. _Hydrophobia._ Dread of water generally attending canine madness. I was
witness to a case, where this disease preceded the locked jaw from a wound
in the ankle, occasioned by a fall from a horse; as mentioned in the