tion to the Theory
and Practice of Physic. By David Macbride, M.D. p. 559._]

The latter appears to be referable to that class of proteal forms of
disease, generated by a disordered state of primae viae, sympathetically
affecting the nervous influence in a distant part of the body.

Unless attention is paid to one circumstance, this disease will be
confounded with those species of passive tremblings to which the term
Shaking Palsies has frequently been applied. These are, _tremor
temulentus_, the trembling consequent to indulgence in the drinking of
spirituous liquors; that which proceeds from the immoderate employment
of tea and coffee; that which appears to be dependent on advanced age;
and all those tremblings which proceed from the various circumstances
which induce a diminution of power in the nervous system. But by
attending to that circumstance alone, which has been already noted as
characteristic of mere tremor, the distinction will readily be made.
If the trembling limb be supported, and none of its muscles be called
into action, the trembling will cease. In the real Shaking Palsy the
reverse of this takes place, the agitation continues in full force
whilst the limb is at rest and unemployed; and even is sometimes
diminished by calling the muscles into employment.

CHAP. IV.

PROXIMATE CAUSE--REMOTE CAUSES--ILLUSTRATIVE CASES.

Before making the attempt to point out the nature and cause of this
disease, it is necessary to plead, that it is made under very
unfavourable circumstances. Unaided by previous inquiries immediately
directed to this disease, and not having had the advantage, in a
single case, of that light which anatomical examination yields,
opinions and not facts can only be offered. Conjecture founded on
analogy, and an attentive consideration of the peculiar symptoms of
the disease, have been the only guides that could be obtained for this
research, the result of which is, as it ought to be, offered with
hesitation.

SUPPOSED PROXIMATE CAUSE.

A diseased state of the _medulla spinalis_, in that part
which is contained in the canal, formed by the superior
cervical vertebrae, and extending, as the disease proceeds,
to the _medulla oblongata_.

By the nature of the symptoms we are taught, that the disease depends
on some irregularity in the direction of the nervous influence; by the
wide range of p