ldom
experiences a suspension of the agitation of his limbs. Commencing,
for instance in one arm, the wearisome agitation is borne until
beyond sufferance, when by suddenly changing the posture it is for a
time stopped in that limb, to commence, generally, in less than a
minute in one of the legs, or in the arm of the other side. Harassed
by this tormenting round, the patient has recourse to walking, a mode
of exercise to which the sufferers from this malady are in general
partial; owing to their attention being thereby somewhat diverted from
their unpleasant feelings, by the care and exertion required to ensure
its safe performance.

But as the malady proceeds, even this temporary mitigation of
suffering from the agitation of the limbs is denied. The propensity to
lean forward becomes invincible, and the patient is thereby forced to
step on the toes and fore part of the feet, whilst the upper part of
the body is thrown so far forward as to render it difficult to avoid
falling on the face. In some cases, when this state of the malady is
attained, the patient can no longer exercise himself by walking in his
usual manner, but is thrown on the toes and forepart of the feet;
being, at the same time, irresistibly impelled to take much quicker
and shorter steps, and thereby to adopt unwillingly a running pace. In
some cases it is found necessary entirely to substitute running for
walking; since otherwise the patient, on proceeding only a very few
paces, would inevitably fall.

In this stage, the sleep becomes much disturbed. The tremulous motion
of the limbs occur during sleep, and augment until they awaken the
patient, and frequently with much agitation and alarm. The power of
conveying the food to the mouth is at length so much impeded that he
is obliged to consent to be fed by others. The bowels, which had been
all along torpid, now, in most cases, demand stimulating medicines of
very considerable power: the expulsion of the faeces from the rectum
sometimes requiring mechanical aid. As the disease proceeds towards
its last stage, the trunk is almost permanently bowed, the muscular
power is more decidedly diminished, and the tremulous agitation
becomes violent. The patient walks now with great difficulty, and
unable any longer to support himself with his stick, he dares not
venture on this exercise, unless assisted by an attendant, who walking
backwards before him, prevents his falling forwards, by the pressure
of his ha