[Read June 15, 1758.]
IN the month of January 1757, I was concerned for a young gentle-woman,
who, if the number, continuance, and frequency of their returns,
be considered, suffered the most violent and severe convulsions I
ever knew. At some times the muscular spasms were general; at other
times single muscles only, or a number of them, subservient to some
particular purpose in the animal oeconomy, were affected. And such
was the peculiarity of this case, that after and in proportion as
any single muscle, or any determined number of muscles, had been in
a state of spasm, a paralytic inability succeeded to those muscles,
which very much disordered and impaired, and several times even for no
small continuance prevented the patient from performing, several of
her necessary functions. When the muscles, for instance, subservient to
deglutition had been convulsed, for many hours after the fits had left
her, she has not been able to swallow a single drop of liquid: so that
when attempts have been made to cause her to drink, unless the liquor
was immediately thrown back, there was imminent danger of her being
strangled. When her eyes have been affected, several times a compleat
_gutta serena_, and total blindness, has ensued; the patient being able
to bear the strong day-light with open eyes, without being sensible of
its influence, or in the least contracting her widely dilated pupils.
After one of these fits the blindness continued full five days; and I
began to be in fear for the return of her sight.
You, Sir, who are so excellently well versed in the animal oeconomy,
are not to be informed, that vocification is performed in the _aspera
arteria_; but that the articulation of sounds into syllables and words
is modulated principally by the tongue, and muscles about the larynx.
In the case before you, very early in the disease, the spasms seized
the muscles about the larynx: the consequence of which was, that after
they were over, the patient was unable to utter a word. This faculty
however she again once recovered; but it continued a very short time,
as the fits returned, which again left her deprived of the power
of speech. After having lost her voice a second time, her power of
speech did not return, even after she was freed from her convulsions,
and her general health restored. Fourteen months passed, whilst this
patient continued absolutely speechless; when, after having violently
heated herself by four hours dancing, on a sudden her power of speech
returned, and it has continued perfectly free ever since.
What is still further remarkable in this case is, that during the whole
time of this patient’s continuing speechless, her life was rendered yet
more uncomfortable by her having, from the injury to her brain by the
spasms, forgot how to write, so as to express her meaning that way: but
upon the recovery of her speech, this faculty likewise returned, which
she has retained ever since. During the severity of this disease, which
continued several weeks, almost every day of which, from the number
and violence of the convulsions, I feared would be the patient’s last,
nothing was left unattempted, which I imagined could tend to prevent
the return of the spasms, or lessen their effects. My endeavours so far
happily succeeded, that her fits did not return; but the consequences
of them continued, more particularly her inability to speak. After some
months however, when she was recruited in her strength, I was desirous
of trying the effects of electricity, more particularly applied about
her throat. This was accordingly attempted; but such was the state of
her nerves, and their sensibility to its effects, that electrizing
brought back the fits, which again affected her sight: so that I was
compelled to desist, lest, in endeavouring to restore her speech, I
might not only fail in this attempt, but might bring possibly on a
permanent blindness. I determined therefore to trust the whole to time,
which has happily removed all her complaints.
C. _An Account of an extraordinary Storm of Hail in_ Virginia. _By_
Francis Fauquier, _Esq; Lieutenant Governor of_ Virginia, _and F.R.S.
Communicated by_ William Fauquier, _Esq; F.R.S._
_To the Rev._ Tho. Birch, _D. D. Secret. R. S._
[Read Nov. 9, 1758.]