The only Case which requires immediate Assistance in the Fit, is, when it is so extremely violent, the Neck so swelled, and the Face so very red, that there is Room to be apprehensive of an Apoplexy, which we should endeavour to obviate, by drawing eight or ten Ounces of Blood from the Arm.
As this terrible Disease is common in the Country, it is doing a real Service to the unfortunate Victims of it, to inform them how very dangerous it is to give themselves blindly up to take all the Medicines, which are cried up to them in such Cases. If there be any one Disease, which requires a more attentive, delicate, and exquisite Kind of Treatment, it is this very Disease. Some Species of it are wholly incurable: and such as may be susceptible of a Cure, require the utmost Care and Consideration of the most enlightned and most experienced Physicians: while those who pretend to cure all epileptic Patients, with one invariable Medicine, are either Ignorants, or Impostors, and sometimes both in one.
§ 517. Simple Convulsion Fits, which are not epileptic, are frequently of a long Continuance, persevering, with very few and short Intervals, for Days and even for Weeks.
The true genuine Cause should be investigated as strictly as possible, though nothing should be attempted in the Fit. The Nerves are, during that Term, in so high a Degree of Tension and Sensibility, that the very Medicines, supposed to be strongly indicated, often redouble the Storm they were intended to appease.
Thin watery Liquors, moderately imbued with Aromatics, are the least hurtful, the most innocent Things that can be given; such as Bawm, Lime-tree, and Elder Flower Tea. A Ptisan of Liquorice Root only has sometimes answered better than any other.
Of suffocating, or strangling Fits.
§ 518. These Fits (by whatever other Name they may be called) whenever they very suddenly attack a Person, whose Breathing was easy and natural just before, depend almost constantly on a Spasm or Contraction of the Nerves, in the Vesicles of the Lungs; or upon an Infarction, a Stuffing of the same Parts, produced by viscid clammy Humours.
That Suffocation which arises from a Spasm is not dangerous, it goes off of itself, or it may be treated like Swoonings owing to the same Cause. See [§ 502].
§ 519. That Suffocation, which is the Effect of a sanguineous Fulness and Obstruction, may be distinguished by its attacking strong, vigorous, sanguine Persons, who are great Eaters, using much juicy nutritious Food, and strong Wine and Liquors, and who frequently eat and inflame themselves; and when the Fit has come on after any inflaming Cause; when the Pulse is full and strong, and the Countenance red.
Such are cured, 1, by a very plentiful Discharge of Blood from the Arm, which is to be repeated, if necessary.