ant. Ideo primam (_posteriorem_) modo
descriptam tremoris speciem, quando quiescenti homini involuntariis
illis et alternis motibus agitantur membra, palpitationem ([Greek:
palmon]) dixit, posteriorem (_primam_) vero, quae non fit nisi homo
conetur partes quasdam movere tremorem vocavit."
[Footnote 5: Comment, in Herman. Boerhaav. Aphorismos. Tom.
ii. p. 181.]
[Footnote 6: De tremore. Cap. 3 and 4. Chart, Tom. vii. p.
200-201.]
Under this authority the term palpitation may be employed to mark
those morbid motions which chiefly characterise this disease,
notwithstanding that this term has been anticipated by Sauvages, as
characteristic of another species of tremor[7]. The separation of
palpitation of the limbs (_Palmos_ of Galen, _Tremor Coactus_ of de la
Boe) from tremor, is the more necessary to be insisted on, since the
distinction may assist in leading to a knowledge of the seat of the
disease. It is also necessary to bear in mind, that this affection is
distinguishable from tremor, by the agitation, in the former,
occurring whilst the affected part is supported and unemployed, and
being even checked by the adoption of voluntary motion; whilst in the
latter, the tremor is induced immediately on bringing the parts into
action. Thus an artist, afflicted with the malady here treated of,
whilst his hand and arm is palpitating strongly, will seize his
pencil, and the motions will be suspended, allowing him to use it for
a short period; but in tremor, if the hand be quite free from the
affection, should the pen or pencil be taken up, the trembling
immediately commences.
[Footnote 7: Sect. XVI. _Tremor palpitans_, Preysinger
classis morborum. _Palmos_ Galeni.
In tremoribus vulgaribus, aequalibus temporum intervallis, non
musculus, sed artus ipsemet alternatim attollitur aut
deprimitur, aut in oppositas partes it atque redit per minima
tamen spatiola; in palpitatione vero sine ullo ordine musculi
unius lacertus subito subsilit, nec regulariter continuoque
movetur, sed nunc semel aut bis, nunc minime intra idem
tempus subsilit; an causa irritans in sensorio communi, an in
musculo ipse palpitante Quaerenda sit, ignoramus. _Nosologiae
Methodicae_, Vol. I. p. 559. 1768.
But the adoption which Sauvages has made of this term, will
not be regarded as an absolute prohibition from the
employment of it here; since the _tremor palpitans_ of
Sauv
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