Some thoughts on the relaxation of human bodies : and on the misapplication of the bark in that and some other cases.

Date:
1783
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some thoughts on the relaxation of human bodies : and on the misapplication of the bark in that and some other cases. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    'diflblved i and man and beafls, in fleeing •from an enemy, feem to lofe their loco- motive powers *. Fowls dropping from their perch at the flght of a fox, and the fafcinating power of fome ferpents on their diftant prey, muft be afcribcd to this folvent, fear. Sleep relaxes and ftretches out the whole body, which is fenfibly taller in the morning than in the evening. Venery of every kind is a . ' great relaxer; and languor, debility, cpilepfy, and other diforders are its con- fcquences, cf.^ecially if ufed in excefs-j-. Thf.se indeed, or moft of thefe, are not difeafes, but natural effeds of con- llitution and temperament; and medi- cine is not ufually adminiftered. But by knowing and attending to thefe caufes ♦ The ingenious naturalifl Mr. Pennant obftrves. that lobfters are frightened with thunder ; and are apt - iQ caft their claws, on a very loud explofion. **^Rara Venus juvat, frequens debilitat, is an ansicnt laying. of