ABSTRACT
§ I. The Apoplexy, in its Fit and Paroxysin, is one of the most frightful and fatal Distempers belonging to the nervous Class of DiseaseS, few out-living the first Fit, fewer the second, and, as it is commonly said, none at all the third: tho’ this Observation is not altogether without Exceptions; for it is in this, as in all other bodily Distempers, those who are strong and robust, and in whom the Cause is but just beginning to operate, and meets with a greater Resistance from the State of the Solids, will hold it longer, and struggle more than the weak and tender. Few are ever seiz'd with this Distemper, if it comes naturally, and without an Accident, till towards the Decline of Life, unless they have been much troubled, with violent and acute Head-aches, or Inflammations upon the Brain, or its Membranes, or have some inflammatory Distemper translated from the Extremities upon the Head, such as the Gout, Rheumatism, Erysipelas, and the like: those who are seiz'd with a deep Stroak of it, have scarce any Warning, but a sudden violent Head-ach, a Sickness at the Stomach, or a Cholick, and drop down immediately, without Sense or Motion, and have scarce any Sign of Life, except now and then an uncertain Twitch or Twinkle in the Pulse (if it is not from Flatulence) and scarce any Breathing that can be discover'd, even on the Surface of a Glass, but a constant Snorting or Snoring in the Throat and Nostrils. Those in whom it comes naturally, are observ'd generally to be either gross Feeders, or those who deal too plentifully in strong and spirituous Liquors, of a gross and full Habit, Short and thick neck'd, voluptuous and lazy; tho’ some thinner Habits, may suffer under it, but they are those who have formerly been subject to violent Heach-aches, or are worn out by Lechery.
