_Of the concurring Causes of the Night-mare._
Although I have assign’d the supine position of the Body, and the
pressure of the Heart upon the Pulmonary Veins and the left Auricle, as
the immediate Causes of this Disorder; yet it is necessary to consider
several pre-disposing circumstances, which may render some persons more
subject to it than others, who may perhaps sleep sometimes on their
Backs, and escape it.
The general primary Causes of this Disease are a Plethora, or a too
great quantity of Blood, a viscidity or tenacity of the Fluids, and a
weakness or inertia of the Solids. Hence, young persons of gross full
habits, the robust, the luxurious, the drunken, and they who sup late,
are most subject to the Night-mare[19]. Also Women who are obstructed;
Girls of full, lax habits, before the eruption of the Menses; of which
I have collected the following Cases,