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OF SWOONINGS.

can by no means shake off. He groans and sometimes cries out, thoughoftener he attempts to speak in vain. Sometimes he imagines himselfengaged with an enemy, and, in danger of being killed, attempts to runaway but finds he cannot. Sometimes he fancies himself in a house that" is on fire, or that he is in danger of being drowned in a river. He oftenthinks that he is falling over a precipice, and the dread of being dashedto pieces suddenly awakes him.

This disorder has been supposed to proceed from too much bloodfrom a stagnation of blood in the brain, lungs, &c. But it is rather anervous affection, and arises chiefly from indigestion. Hence we findthat persons of weak nerves, who lead a sedentary life, and live full, aremost commonly afflicted with the night-mare. Nothing tends more toproduce it than heavy suppers, especially when eaten late, or the patientgoes to bed soon after. Wind is likewise a very frequent cause of thisdisease; for which reason those who are afflicted with it ought to avoid!1 flatulent food, and having the belly in a costive state. Deep thought,anxiety, or any thing that oppresses the mind, ought also to be avoided

As persons afflicted with the night-mare generally moan, or make somenoise in the fit, they should be waked, or spoken to by such as hear them,as the uneasiness generally goes off as soon as the patient is awake. Dr.Whytt says, he generally found a dram of brandy, taken at bed-time,jT-vent this disease. That however is a bad custom, and in time losesits effect. We would rather have the patient depend upon the use offood of easy digestion, cheerfulness, exercise through the day, and alight supper taken early, than to accustom himself to drams. A glassof peppermint water will often promote digestion as much as a glass ofbrandy, and is much safer. After a person of weak digestion, however,has eaten flatulent food, a dram may be necessary; in this case wewould recommend it as the most proper medicine.

Persons who are young, and full of blood, if troubled with the night-mare, ought to take a cathartic frequently, and use a spare diet.

OF SWOONINGS

People of weak nerves or delicate constitutions, are liable to swooning or fainting fits. These indeed are seldom dangerous when duly at-tended to; but when wholly neglected, or improperly treated, they oftenprove hurtful, and sometimes fatal.

The general causes of swoonings are, sudden transition from cold toheat; breathing air that is deprived of its proper spring or elasticity ;great fatigue; excessive weakness; loss of blood; long fastings; ieur,grief, and other violent passions or affections of the mind.

It is well known, that persons who have been long exposed to cokf,often faint or fall into a swoon upon coming into the house, especially if they drink hot liquor, or sit near a large fire. This might easilybe prevented by people taking care not to go into a warm room immediately after they have been exposed to the colu air, to approachthe fire gradually, and not to eat or drink any thing hot till the bodyhas> been gradually brought into a warm temperature