In young persons of a full habit, the palsy must be treated in the same manner as the sanguine apoplexy. The patient must be bled, blistered, and have his body opened by sharp clysters or purgative medicines. But, in old age, or when the disease proceeds from relaxation or debility, which is generally the case, a quite contrary course must be pursued. The diet must be warm and invigorating, seasoned with spicy and aromatic vegetables, as mustard, horse-radish, &c. The drink may be generous wine, mustard-whey, or brandy and water. Friction with the flesh-brush, or a warm hand, is extremely proper, especially on the parts affected. Blistering-plasters may likewise be applied to the affected parts with advantage. When this cannot be done, they may be rubbed with the volatile liniment, or the nerve ointment of the Edinburgh dispensatory. One of the best external applications is electricity. The shocks, or rather vibrations, should be received on the part affected; and they ought daily to be repeated for several weeks.
Vomits are very beneficial in this kind of palsy, and ought frequently to be administered. Cephalic snuff, or any thing that makes the patient sneeze, is likewise of use. Some pretend to have found great benefit from rubbing the parts affected with nettles; but this does not seem to be any way preferable to blistering. If the tongue is affected, the patient may gargle his mouth frequently with brandy and mustard; or he may hold a bit of sugar in his mouth wet with the palsy-drops or compound spirits of lavender. The wild valerian-root is a very proper medicine in this case. It may either be taken in an infusion with sage-leaves, or half a drachm of it in powder may be given in a glass of wine three times a-day. If the patient cannot use the valerian, he may take of sal volatile oleosum, compound spirits of lavender, and tincture of castor, each half an ounce; mix these together, and take forty or fifty drops in a glass of wine three or four times a-day. A table-spoonful of mustard-seed taken frequently is a very good medicine. The patient ought likewise to chew cinnamon bark, ginger, or other warm spiceries.
Exercise is of the utmost importance in the palsy; but the patient must beware of cold, damp, and moist air. He ought to wear flannel next his skin; and, if possible, should remove into a warmer climate.
OF THE EPILEPSY, OR FALLING SICKNESS.
The epilepsy is a sudden deprivation of all the senses, wherein the patient falls suddenly down, and is affected with violent convulsive motions. Children, especially those who are delicately brought up, are most subject to it. It more frequently attacks men than women, and is very difficult to cure. When the epilepsy attacks children, there is reason to hope it may go off about the time of puberty. When it attacks any person after twenty years of age, the cure is difficult; but when after forty, a cure is hardly to be expected. If the fit continues only for a short space, and returns seldom, there is reason to hope; but if it continues long, and returns frequently, the prospect is bad. It is a very unfavourable symptom when the patient is seized with the fits in his sleep.
CAUSES.——The epilepsy is sometimes hereditary. It may likewise proceed from blows, bruises, or wounds on the head; a collection of water, blood, or serous humours in the brain; a polypus; tumours or concretions within the skull; excessive drinking; intense study; excess of venery; worms; teething; suppression of customary evacuations; too great emptiness or repletion; violent passions or affections of the mind, as fear, joy, &c.; hysteric affections; contagion received into the body, as the infection of the small-pox, measles, &c.
SYMPTOMS.——An epileptic fit is generally preceded by unusual weariness; pain of the head; dulness; giddiness; noise in the ears; dimness of sight; palpitation of the heart; disturbed sleep; difficult breathing; the bowels are inflated with wind; the urine is in great quantity, but thin; the complexion is pale; the extremities are cold; and the patient often feels, as it were, a stream of cold air ascending towards his head.
In the fit, the patient generally makes an unusual noise; his thumbs are drawn in towards the palms of the hands; his eyes are distorted; he starts, and foams at the mouth; his extremities are bent or twitted various ways; he often discharges his seed, urine, and fæces involuntarily; and is quite destitute of all sense and reason. After the fit is over, his senses gradually return, and he complains of a kind of stupor, weariness, and pain of his head; but has no remembrance of what happened to him during the fit.
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 its strange symptoms, was formerly attributed to the wrath of the gods, or the agency of evil spirits. In modern times it has often, by the vulgar, been imputed to witchcraft or fascination. It depends however as much upon natural causes as any other malady; and its cure may often be effected by persisting in the use of proper means.