pain experienced in some part of the belly, most frequently about the navel, or the left side between that, and the stomach; this sensation which gradually spreads, is described as if a ball was passing along, till by degrees it reaches the throat and impedes the respiration. The patient sinking down violently convulsed, apparently suffering dreadfully from impeded respiration, uttering occasional shrieks, not dissimilar to the crowing of a cock; there is sobbing, effusion of tears, sickness, palpitation of the heart, alternate fits of laughter and weeping, incoherent expressions are uttered, temporary delirium prevails, and a frothy mucous is discharged from the mouth, the spasms at length subside, a quantity of wind is evacuated upwards, with repeated deep drawn sighs, and the woman recovers gradually to the power of sense and motion, in most instances, without having any remembrance of what has occurred during the fit, at the same time experiencing, severe pain in the head, accompanied with soreness over the entire body; sometimes there is little or no convulsive motion, the female lying seemingly in a state of stupor or profound sleep. Hiccough is a symptom which is often present, and in some persons, the hysteric fit consists in this alone.

The fits have been known to continue for two or three days, during which time it appears as if the sufferer would die from suffocation, and death has occasionally occurred, though instances of this kind of termination are exceedingly rare; the attack is sometimes ushered in by violent pain in the back, extending from the spine to the breast-bone, and at length becoming stationary in the stomach; being evidently of a spasmodic nature, often prevailing in so high a degree, as to cause cold, clammy perspirations, a pale cadaverous countenance, loss of heat in the extremities, and a pulse scarcely perceptible; there is generally a copious discharge of limpid urine. Hysterics are more frequent in the single than the married state, usually occurring between the age of puberty and that of thirty-five years; the attacks are more common about the periods of menstruation than at any other, and in those who are predisposed, may be induced by passions of the mind, sudden emotions of surprise, joy, grief, or fear, they may also arise from sympathy. Women of a delicate, nervous habit, whose system is extremely sensitive, are liable to become victims to this malady; such a habit may be acquired by indolence, a sedentary life, grief, anxiety of

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mind, suppression of the menses, or an excessive flow of them, food in too small quantity, or of an unwholesome quality. It is a circumstance well deserving attention, that if hysterical females would only make an effort to subdue or ward off an attack, such endeavours in seven cases out of ten would succeed. I have witnessed cases where reasoning alone availed. It is a well known fact that an hysterical habit may be produced by giving way to slight paroxysms, and suppressed temper will induce a fit; mothers should carefully guard against the encouragement of this evil in early life, for when the mental powers are in a healthy state and the mind properly regulated, we very rarely find an hysterical female, at all events, not on every trifling occasion. There is some considerable consolation however, in knowing that although the appearance of an hysteric fit is dreadfully alarming to the bystanders, it is rarely ever accompanied with the slightest danger, unless where it changes to epilepsy, or the patient is in a very debilitated state. The indications of cure, will be to lessen the violence of the fits and prevent their occurrence, by obviating the causes which have produced them; during an attack, the patient is to be laid in an easy posture, and care

taken that she sustains no injury from falling or striking herself, at the same time, whenever restraint is necessary, it should invariably be done with gentleness, and no more force exerted than is absolutely necessary, in order to prevent evil results: there must be a free admission of cool air, the face dashed with cold water and the hands plunged in it, ice if it is to be procured, may be advantageously applied to the temples, also pungent salts to the nostrils; if the power of swallowing is perfect, a gentle emetic should be administered, as an ounce of ipecacuanha wine, after the operation of which, thirty drops of tincture of opium with forty of spirits of sal-volatile, in a glass of water, is to be given, or one tea-spoonful of ammoniated tincture of valerian, in a wine glass of cold water; should there be a tendency to insensibility, or complete faint, sal-volatile and red lavender in equal parts on sugar, or in camphor, julep will be serviceable, also clysters in which a little assafoetida is introduced. A predisposition to hysterics, may often be removed by duly regulating the bowels, and the judicious administration of the preparations of quinine and iron, combined with exercise and the cold bath, provided it produces no disagreeable effects; by which

system, the habit will be generally strengthened and improved. The mind must be rendered as cheerful as possible, for hysterical patients are invariably gloomy and desponding. Should the menstrual action be irregular or defective, it must be treated according to the rules laid down under those heads. A light nourishing, but by no means a stimulating diet must be prescribed, and a moderate quantity of sherry wine will be of advantage.

FAINTING

MAY be produced in delicate females by any sudden emotion, as grief, joy, fear, longer abstinence than usual, or a more plentiful meal, unusual exertion, and a full habit of body. Whenever a morbid disposition to fainting fits has been by any means established they are for ever after liable to return on any slight occasions, and the malady, if it can be properly so denominated, is invariably attended with an irregularity in the flow of nervous power, and some degree of spasmodic action about the heart; an ordinary fainting fit is however, generally speaking, a thing of little importance, save the temporary inconvenience it produces it occurs frequently to persons in high health, the ac