and diforders of the body. This is too often overlooked in the cure of diforders, many of which are fometimes attempted by the fole mechanical operation of drugs, without calling in to our affiftance the ftrong powers of the imagination, or the concurring influences of the foul. Hence it is, that the fame remedy will not always produce the fame effect, even in the fame perfon, and that common remedies often prove wonderfully fuccefsful in the hands of bold quacks, but do not answer the purpofe in a timorous and distrustful patient." GENUS TH GENUS XCI. ICTERUS, SPEC. 2. SPASMODICUS, a HE jaundice was formerly esteemed to to be fo liable to be produced by mental affections, that jealousy and anger are often denominated by the attendant fymptoms, or fuppofed caufes of this disease. It is certainly often produced by these pas Si forte bilem movet hic tibi verfus. Mart. Epig. L. V. Epist. 27. Hoffman relates a cafe where the jaundice was repeatedly induced by mental commotions. De cachexiâ ictericâ. Obf. 5. See too a cafe in Morgagni. Epift. XXXVIII. Art. 2, fions, fions, even in this country, and is probably more likely to be fo in hot climates. Why these paffions should produce this disease, is perhaps one of the secrets of nature too deep for our comprehenfion. We may remark, however, that biliary obstructions are particularly prevalent in warm climates, to which both these paffions are in a manner congenial. Whether they are in fuch fituations, cause and effect, or both in their turns, is difficult to determine. GENUS CVI. NOSTALGIA. HE laft, and perhaps the most re THE markable inftance of the effects of the paffions of the mind upon the body, is that of the nostalgia, or that defire of revisiting their own country when eftranged from it, 10 particularly prevalent among the Swifs, and to a certain degree among all nations, those especially where the government is moderate, free, and happy. This disorder is faid to begin with melancholy, fadness, Sauvages Nofol. Meth. Art. Nostalgia, love love of folitude, filence, lofs of appetite for both folid and liquid food, proftration of ftrength, and a hectic fever in the evening; which is frequently accompanied with livid or purple spots upon the body. Sometimes a regular intermittent, and fometimes a continued fever attends this diforder; in the management of which, the greatest care is requifite not to exhaust the strength and spirits by evacuations of any kind. Nausea and vomiting are frequent fymptoms, but emetics are of no fervice. The Peruvian bark is the best medicinal remedy, especially when joined with opiates; but when the diforder is violent, nothing avails but returning to their own country, which is so powerful an agent in the cure, that the very preparations for the return prove more effectual than any thing else, although the patient be debilitated and unable to bear any other motion than that of a litter. The lowest ranks are not exempted from this disease, Mr. Sauvages tells us, he has feen the children of beggars, who had no habitation in Swifferland but the streets and highways, equally affected with thofe of higher rank. A particular mufical mufical compofition is in great vogue in Swifferland, fuppofed to be expreffive of the happiness of the people. If this be repeated among the Swiss in any foreign country, it tends ftrongly to recall their affection for their native foil, and their defire of returning, and to induce the disease confequent on the disappointment of their wishes. The effects of this piece of mufic are fo powerful, that it is forbid to be repeated in the French camps, and military stations, on pain of death. Perhaps this is the only endemic diforder, of which we have any knowledge, that can fcarcely be called with juftice a national misfortune. The foregoing pages must be confidered only as fome account of the circumftances in which mental affections are Specifically hurtful, or ferviceable. There is no doubt that they have a general effect in every condition of health, but in most of these they act only as an exciting or debilitating caufe, without any diftinguishing property from many others. The dropfy, nervous atrophy, and feveral other com plaints, |