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EPILEPSY.

The fits are sometimes excited by violent affections of the mind,a debauch of liquor, excessive heat, cold, or the like.

This disease, from the difficulty of investigating its causes, and itsstrange symptoms, was formerly attributed to the wrath of thegods, or the agency of evil spirits. In modern times, it has often,by the vulgar, been imputed to witchcraft and fascination. It de-pends, however, as much upon natural causes as any other mala-dy ; and its cure may often be effected by persisting in the use ofproper means.

Regimen. — Epileptic patients ought, if possible, to breathe apure and free air. Their diet should be light, but nourishing.They ought to drink nothing strong, to avoid swine's flesh, water-fowl, and likewise all windy and oily vegetables, as cabbage, nuts,&c. They ought to keep themselves cheerful, carefully guardingagainst all violent passions, as anger, fear, excessive joy, and thelike. Exercise is likewise of great use ; but the patient must becareful to avoid all extremes either of beat or cold, all dangeroussituations, as standing upon precipices, riding, deep waters, andsuch like.

Medicine. — The intentions of cure must vary according to thecause of the disease. If the patient be of a sanguine temperament,and there be reason to fear an obstruction in the brain, bleedingand other evacuations will be necessary. When the disease is oc-casioned by the stoppage of customary evacuations, these, if possi-ble, must be restored ; if this cannot be done, others may be sub-stituted in their place. Issues or setons in this case have often avery good effect. When there is reason to believe that the diseaseproceeds from worms, proper medicines must be used to kill, orcarry off these vermin. When the disease proceeds from teeth-ing, the body should be kept open by emollient clysters, the feetfrequently bathed in warm water, and, if the fits prove obstinate, ablistering-plaster may be put between the shoulders. The samemethod is to be followed, when epileptie fits precede the*eruptionof the small-pox or measles, &c.

When the disease is hereditary, or proceeds from a wrong for-mation of the brain, a cure is not to lie expected. When it is ow-ing to a debility, or too great an irritability of the nervous system,such medicines as tend to brace and strengthen the nerves may beused, as the Peruvian bark, and steel, »fee.

As a tonic, the cinchona bark* has been much employed in thecure of this disease. It is best, however, adapted to those epilep-sies which recur at certain periods, and whicli are without pletho-ra ; in which cases, if given in a considerable quantity before theexpected recurrence of the fit. it will most likely prove servicea-ble ; and when taken for any length of time, it may be combinedwith valerian, gentian, &c. as in some of the forms below.

Metallic tonics have been found more powerful than the vegeta-ble ones, and are therefore more generally employed. Among

"Tike Decoction of Bark, 10 drachms.Tincture of Bark, 2 drachms.

Tincture of Ammoniated

Valerian, h drachm.

Mix for a draught, to be taken three timosa-da).