But some may say, A Man in a Swound is void of all Motion.
I answer: That cannot be: for, if the Man was really dead, yet his Parts are moving, though they move not according to the property or nature of a living Man: but, if the Body had not consistent Motions, and the Parts did not hold together, it would be dissolved in a moment; and when the Parts do divide, they must divide by Self-motion: but, in a Man in a Swound, some of his Corporeal Motions are only altered from the property and nature of a living Man; I say, some of his Corporeal Motions, not all: Neither do those Motions quite alter from the nature of a living Man, so as the alterations of the Fundamental Motions do: but they are so alter'd, as Language may be alter'd, viz. From Hebrew to Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, English, and many others; and although they are all but Languages, yet they are several Languages or Speeches; so the alteration of the Corporeal Motions of a Man in a Swound, is but as the altering of one sort of Language to another; as put the case, English were the Natural Language or Speech, then all other Languages were unknown to him that knows no other than his Natural: So a Man in a Swound is ignorant of those Motions in the Swound: but, when those Motions return to the Nature of a living Man, he hath the same knowledg he had before. Thus Human Ignorance, and Human Knowledg, may be occasioned by the alterations of the Corporeal Motions.
The truth is, that Swounding and Reviving, is like Forgetfulness and Remembrance, that is, Alteration and Repetition, or Exchange of the same Actions.
[CHAP. VII. Of Numb and Dead Palsies, or Gangren's.]
As for Numb and Dead Palsies, they proceed not only from disordered and Irregular Motions, but from such Figurative Motions as are quite different from the nature of the Creature: for, though it be natural for a Man to dye; yet the Figurative Motions of Death are quite different from the Figurative Motions of Life; so in respect to that which Man names Life, that which Man names Death, is unnatural: but, as there are several sorts of that Man names Life, or Lives; so there are several sorts of those Corporeal Motions, Man names Death: but, Dead Palsies of some Parts of a Man's Body, are not like those of a Man when he is, as we say, quite dead; for, those are not only such sorts of Motions that are quite, or absolutely different from the life of the Man, or such like Creature; but such as dissolve the whole Frame, or Figure of the Creature: But, the Motions of a Dead Palsie, are not dissolving Motions, although they are different from the natural living Motions of a Man. The same, in some manner, are Numb Palsies; only the Motions of Numb Palsies are not so absolutely different from the Natural living Motions; but have more Irregularities, than perfect Alterations. As for that sort of Numbness we name Sleepy Numbness, it is occasioned through some obstruction that hinders and stops the Exterior Sensitive Perception. As, when the Eyes are shut, or blinded, or the Ears stopt, or the Nostrils; the Sensitive Figurative Motions of those Sensitive Organs, cannot make Perceptions of Forrein Objects: so, when the Pores of the Flesh, which are the perceptive Organs of Forrein Touches, are stopt, either by too heavy burthens or pressings, or tying some Parts so hard, as to close the Exterior Organs, (viz. the Pores) they cannot make such Perceptions as belong to Touch: but, when those hinderances are removed, then the Sensitive Perception of Touch, is, in a short time, as perfect as before.
As for Gangren's, although they are somewhat like Dead Palsies, yet they are more like those sorts of dead Corporeal Motions, that dissolve the Frame and Form of a Creature: for, Gangren's dissolve the Frame and Form of the Diseased Part; and the like do all those Corporeal Motions that cause Rottenness, or Parts to divide and separate after a rotten manner.
[CHAP. VIII. Of MADNESS.]
There are several sorts of that Distemper named Madness; but they all proceed through the Irregularities, either of the Rational, or the Sensitive Parts; and sometimes from the Irregularities both of Sense and Reason: but these Irregularities are not such as are quite different from the Nature or Property of a Human Creature, but are only such Irregularities as make false Perceptions of Forrein Objects, or else make strange Conceptions; or move after the manner of Dreams in waking-actions; which is not according to the Perception of present Objects: As for example, The Sensitive Motions of the Exterior Parts, make several Pictures on the outside of the Organs; when as no such Object is present; and that is the reason Mad-men see strange and unusual Sights, hear strange and unusual Sounds, have strange and unusual Tasts and Touch: but, when the Irregularities are only amongst the Rational Parts, then those that are so diseased, have violent Passions, strange Conceptions, wild Fancies, various Opinions, dangerous Designs, strong Resolutions, broken Memories, imperfect Remembrances, and the like. But, when both the Sensitive and Rational are sympathetically disorderly; then the Mad-men will talk extravagantly, or laugh, sing, sigh, weep, tremble, complain, &c. without cause.